CNN
—
The record number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border dominated the governors’ meeting at the White House this weekend, revealing how prevalent the problem has become in states across the country and across the country. political spectrum.
The National Governors Association hosts an annual meeting of governors at the White House to discuss issues affecting their states and other kitchen issues. For years, immigration was put on the back burner.
But that wasn’t the case this year.
Several governors CNN spoke with over the weekend said immigration was the main focus of their discussions.
“This is the No. 1 question on Americans’ minds right now,” said Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte.
“Everybody realizes that this is a significant issue and a challenge right now,” North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper told CNN.
Governors across the country, regardless of their proximity to the U.S. southern border, are grappling with migrant arrivals, in part because of Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. busing migrants to Democratic-run cities unexpectedly. President Joe Biden acknowledged their challenges in his speech remarks to governors Friday.
“You deal with this every day; some of you face it daily. You have real skin in the game,” Biden said, urging governors to step up pressure on lawmakers to pass what he described as “the strongest border deal the country has ever seen “.
Several governors told CNN they have discussed potential solutions to border security challenges with the president.
“I think what you saw in that room (at the White House) was both Democrats and Republicans who want a solution and don’t think Congress can just stand aside,” he said. Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear describing the situation. discussions as “civil”.
As the White House faces Republican criticism and Democratic outcry — some want to see tougher measures and others wary of that approach — Biden has sought to enact tougher border security measures.
THE the president plans sweeping executive action that would restrict migrants’ ability to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border if they crossed illegally — a maneuver reminiscent of the controversial Trump-era action. White House officials say no final decision has been made.
Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said Friday that Biden told governors he was working with lawyers to understand what executive actions he could take on immigration, but that the president seemed “frustrated” with “not getting answers from lawyers who thought he could take the kind of actions he wanted.
Republican Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota stressed the need for additional resources along the U.S. southern border, saying, “I think there are a ton of things that can be done right now, without legislation . »
President’s idea of taking executive action comes after Senate Republicans blocked bipartisan agreement on border earlier this month, which included sweeping measures including authorizing the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I think… at least for now, this legislation is on life support. I think the president is going to look at what we can do,” Cooper said, referring to the Senate border bill. “Some actions that he could potentially take would obviously be subject to litigation as to whether they would be able to work or not.”
The White House criticized Republicans for not adopting the measure linked to a foreign aid program. And on Friday, each of the tables where the governors sat had a fact sheet with details of the border deal.
Managing the US-Mexico border has been a political liability for Biden, whose team is grappling with growing migration in the Western Hemisphere, made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Failed border bill ‘handed over to president’ a political opportunitysaid Democratic New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
“It’s clear that no matter what anyone thinks about immigration policy, we now know who is responsible for the inaction, which is terrible for America, but frankly a gift to the president “, did he declare.
Abbott’s escalating border tactics have brought the migrant crisis to the doorsteps of Democratic-led cities and states, bringing the issue to the forefront of a heated election cycle and forcing Democrats to respond.
“All this bickering between the two parties must stop. I ask our leaders to stop politicizing this issue of immigration and come to the table to find solutions to solve this immigration problem,” said Mayor Ramiro Garza of the border city of Edinburg, in Texas, in a press release.
Garza and other mayors from across the country met with Biden last month at the White House to discuss the influx of migrants arriving in their cities. For months, Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called on Biden to provide more resources to help them address these challenges.
Migrants often move to cities across the United States if they can be released from government detention and during their immigration proceedings. But Abbott sent thousands of migrants to some cities without notice, leaving authorities scrambling to respond.
Democratic strategists recognized the political effect of Abbott’s measures.
“The fear that Abbott’s stunts were intended to scare people was there from the beginning, and there are a lot of people running around right now, afraid that this will work,” a Democratic strategist told CNN.
“He played into the idea of pitting immigrants against the American people in general and against immigrants who have been here for years,” the strategist added.
CNN’s Edward-Isaac Dovere contributed to this report.
