Should Biden give a major speech addressing the border situation and our immigration policy?

[LymphocyteLover]

The border is an issue that the right has gotten huge traction from and they totally control the narrative on.

I think it would be good if he can give a major speech outlining what he's done on this issue and then announce new policies. One thing could be that he’s removing sanctions from Cuba and Venezuela to relieve their economic problems that are driving so many migrants to the USA.

[Magoo48]

1. No, not unless his team has come up with real solutions other than a fucking wall.

[JCMach1]

25. Exactly,.needs to be a real policy announcement...

Unfortunately,.real progress on immigration will piss off both the right and the left.

So, I suspect nothing is what we will get

[In It to Win It]

26. I agree. I think just about any policy progress will make both sides unhappy

[Beachnutt]

2. I think he should

and explain to the American people his plan on immigration and the wall being built.
I trust President Biden as an honorable man looking out for the best interest of the American people and humanity as a whole.

[LymphocyteLover]

4. Yes, agree. I am tired of the rightwing owning this issue and killing us over it

[Amishman]

36. Yup, we let compassion overrule logic. Our border is too open.

We cannot take in all who want to come here.

We need to admit we were wrong and take charge of the issue so we can pivot to a proper plan - one that drastically reduces the inflow to a manageable and controllable level, while providing protections to those who have been here for a long time.

[Bluethroughu]

3. Yes. Allow those here a pathway to citizenship, and fine

Business owners $100,000. Hiring illegal immigrants on first infraction then jail for business owner on second infraction.

The bottom will put pressure on Republicans to do something. Remember the farmers crying over the immigrants leaving Florida. The same people that voted for trump and pushed Deathsantis. Let these people do the heavy lifting. Everyone knows the restaurants, farms, and factories exploit and extort this labor.

[LymphocyteLover]

5. yes, that would be good

[ripcord]

34. We can't fine business owners until we have a reliable means of determining who can work legally

Remember it was immigration activists and liberals who kept e-Verify from becoming mandatory. Btw the term illegal immigrant is offensive, no one is illegal.

[Bluethroughu]

40. The immigrants that are here not through immigration dept, are being exploited by employers.

Those businesses that choose to hire them, for slave wages should be held accountable because they provoke this crisis that benefits themselves only.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. I think a lot of people would be very surprised and disappointed if he did.

[LymphocyteLover]

8. Really? Why?

doesn't it depend more on what he says?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

14. Precisely because of what he'd say

[LymphocyteLover]

20. What? Like what?

[sarisataka]

12. One should not ask a question

That one is not prepared to hear the answer


OTOH the winds of change are already blowing. Amazing how opinions can change overnight.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. Yeppppp

[Autumn]

9. Yes. I think we are owed an explanation for ignoring protective laws.

[LymphocyteLover]

21. which protective laws? For the environment?

[ripcord]

35. Yes, the President was under no obligation to waive those laws and regualtions

[LymphocyteLover]

37. did he actually waive them personally?

[ripcord]

38. Does it really matter if he waived them personally or ordered them waived?

[LymphocyteLover]

39. Yes... though yes, he's ultimately responsible either way

[Johnny2X2X]

10. George W Bush

The only good idea that dolt ever had was a guest worker program, but I'm sure they would have botched that if they ever implemented it too. We need workers, creating an easy to apply for guest worker program that has controls would alleviate much of the issues.

Trump dismantled the immigration system, it was total chaos. Biden is getting it back under control.

[pinkstarburst]

13. Not unless he has actual, concrete solutions

Many people in the country right now view the number of migrants streaming across the southern border as problematic, and not just republicans. Democratic mayors and governors are unhappy. Democrats in cities that are seeing a lots of migrants are unhappy.

Immigration is a complicated issue.

2.2 million migrants crossed into the US illegally in 2022. Most likely that same number will cross this year (or more) and need shelter and jobs. Unless Biden has a speech with concrete solutions like 1) stop giving them hotel rooms but do give them guest worker permits for specific jobs we need filled that no one else wants to do 2) build border wall in areas where migrants are crossing illegally to help control the flow and bring it down to a manageable number

If he doesn't have concrete solutions, then no, I would not stand up and give a speech.

[LymphocyteLover]

22. Well yes-- I think the point is exactly that a lot of people including Dems are concerned about it

and he should explain his policies and propose new ones

[pinkstarburst]

23. And my point is that IF he has new policies to propose

and serious changes to implement that are going to make a measurable difference, then absolutely, make a speech. If it's going to be one of these "in order to solve immigration, we must address the root causes of migration that are causing these people to leave their countries" vague non-answers with no action, then don't bother because we already know that and without meaningful action, it's just an exercise in frustration for border communities and major cities dealing with an influx of migrants. We all know they are coming here because the situation where they are coming from is awful and opportunities are better here. There is essentially not a border barrier because people can just walk right across, as evidenced by the 2.2 million people who did it last year.

So if he is going to make huge, sweeping, meaningful policy change, like a guest worker program, like instructing states and border patrol to stop putting people in hotel rooms, but that they will be eligible for guest worker permits, that would be reasonable. Announcing border wall construction to help border patrol manage the flow of people coming in would be reasonable also.

If he doesn't have huge, sweeping policy change to announce, I would not get up there at all.

[LymphocyteLover]

24. I see your point, but I still feel like someone in the administration needs to really clarify what

they are doing about the border crossing because right now they are getting absolutely hammered by the right and it's gotta be costing votes

[JCMach1]

27. The border issue has morphed in recent years. It has .more than ever

Become people smuggling industry... very different from the idea we have of plucky immigrants leaving their home and their struggle to get here (I am thinking the film,.El Norte).

These days it is much more international in flavor, East Asians, South Asians,.Africans and many others all caught up in the shady people smuggling industry.

[BannonsLiver]

16. No.

Why give his critics here and elsewhere the satisfaction?

[Johonny]

17. No, he should address real issues his base cares about

Talking about the rights talking point issues is pointless and just allows them to control the narrative.

[GoodRaisin]

18. No. That would just be spun by the Right as if if Fox News border lies had any merit.

“Biden’s Border Crisis” is a Fox News created wedge issue. There’s no speech that will make that go away now. They will just keep on pushing the border lies along with all their other lies.

Democrats have needed their own channel for pushing back all those lies. MSNBC is as close as we have but MSNBC doesn’t work for Democrats like Fox News works for Republicans. So, we don’t have effective ways to counter all those lies. It’s like sticking your finger in a dam.

[mountain grammy]

19. At this point, I think he must address this..

[Stinky The Clown]

28. I think he needs to lay the crisis where it belongs - on the Republicans

And tie that to his decision to build the wall (I hate that phrase)

[LymphocyteLover]

29. For sure! Repubs own this problem way more than Dems

[LymphocyteLover]

30. Pretty good/reasonable editorial on immigration from the NYT

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/07/opinion/new-york-migrant-crisis.html

In the past year, more than a million people have entered the United States through the southern border, overflowing shelters and straining public services. Most of the newcomers claim asylum, a status that allows them to be in the country legally but leaves them in limbo. They often must wait years for their cases to be heard, and it can be a lengthy process to obtain legal permission to work.

This nation has long drawn strength from immigration, and providing asylum is an important expression of America’s national values. But Congress has failed to provide the necessary resources to welcome those who are eligible and to turn away those who are not. Instead, overwhelmed immigration officials allow nearly everyone to stay temporarily, imposing enormous short-term costs on states and cities that the federal government hasn’t done enough to mitigate.

Vice President Kamala Harris and others have correctly identified corruption and instability in Central and South America as reasons many people continue to flee their homes, and the United States should do what it can to help countries with these challenges. But that is not an answer to the disruption that this recent wave of people is causing in American communities right now.

The federal government’s negligence is fueling anger against immigrants and stoking divisions. The question is whether Congress, mired in dysfunction, can stir itself to enact sensible changes so the nation can reap the benefits of immigration.

[Demsrule86]

31. No...you don't encourage the shitty GOP.

[LymphocyteLover]

33. how would coming up with reasonable solutions encourage the GOP?

[LymphocyteLover]

32. to be clear the reason I am harping on this issue is because the right really beats us up on it