OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
President Joe Biden is in very hot water again with a large number of Americans over a term he used to describe the millions of people who have been allowed to stay in the U.S. after illegally crossing the border under his watch.
During Biden’s visit to a quiet part of the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, the White House released a statement highlighting elements of the unpassable border bill that was abandoned by Republicans after learning that it would still allow up to 5,000 people per day into the country.
The statement said: “The bill also includes $1.4 billion for cities and states who are providing critical services to newcomers, and would expedite work permits for people who are in the country and qualify.”
Critics took issue with the use of the word “newcomers.”
The Biden White House is now referring to illegal immigrants as "newcomers."
Joe Biden is not serious about stopping the illegal immigration into the United States. This is a catastrophe by design. pic.twitter.com/Q7wB62uxsJ
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) February 29, 2024
Inappropriate use of the term comes the same week an illegal alien from Venezuela who had been arrested before was charged in the brutal slaying of a University of Georgia nursing student, 22-year-old Laken Riley. Authorities said he beat her so badly that parts of her skull were crushed.
“The Biden White House is now referring to illegal immigrants as ‘newcomers.’ Joe Biden is not serious about stopping the illegal immigration into the United States. This is a catastrophe by design,” House Republicans — who have still yet to impeach Biden over his dereliction of duty regarding the border – wrote on the X platform.
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) said on X, “This is ABSURD. He has no interest in putting an end to this invasion. He just wants to use more of your tax dollars to aid and abet it.”
Turning Point’s Charlie Kirk added, “A newcomer just brutally murdered Laken Riley along with 100,000 other Americans every year from fentanyl poisoning. Your government hates you.”
Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) wrote, “While touting the $1.4 billion dollars of taxpayer money they want to spend on feeding and housing illegal immigrants, Biden’s @WhiteHouse just referred to illegal crossers as ‘newcomers.’”
Conservative Fox News contributor and columnist Tammy Bruce added, “Mr. Orwell is not surprised. ‘A White House handout refers to illegal immigrants as ‘newcomers,’ which provoked sharp criticism from Republicans.’”
In a column for the UK’s Daily Mail, former President Donald Trump, who has been lauded for his strict enforcement of immigration and border security policies, said he’s the only one who can stop the current migrant “invasion” he says Biden has facilitated:
Today, I am visiting our wide-open Southern border to witness the annihilation of American sovereignty being carried out at Joe Biden’s orders.
In a last-minute trip, Biden is chasing me to the border, no doubt desperate to shirk blame for the catastrophe he has caused.
But do not be deceived. The abolition of America’s borders is Joe Biden’s policy. The mass-migration of millions of illegal aliens into the United States is Joe Biden’s plan. This is Joe Biden’s invasion.
When I left office, we handed Biden the most secure border in U.S. history.
We ended catch and release. We built hundreds of miles of Border Wall. We implemented Remain in Mexico, Safe Third Country Agreements with Central American nations, an asylum ban, Title 42, and rapid removals.
When I was president, when illegal aliens trespassed across our border, they were captured, detained, and deported.
When Joe Biden came into office, he willfully and deliberately obliterated every strong border policy I put into place, and launched the largest border invasion in American history.
Biden stopped wall construction. He ordered an immediate suspension of removals. He ripped up Remain in Mexico. He terminated my asylum agreements. He ended Title 42. He tied the hands of our ICE and Border Patrol agents behind their backs. He made it known to the entire world that our border was wide open.
Upon taking office, I will restore every strong border policy I had before — and impose tough additional measures to keep out the gang members, human traffickers, sadists and thugs.
Finally, I will leverage every tool, resource, and authority to begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history. This is just common sense.
