Biden And Trump To Visit US-Mexico Border On Same Day
Umer Jamshaid Published February 27, 2024 | 01:40 AM
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Feb, 2024) President Joe Biden and Donald Trump will both visit the US-Mexico border on Thursday in a high-profile clash of schedules as they vie to win over voters on immigration -- one of the hottest issues in the 2024 election.
With record numbers of migrants crossing into the United States, Biden has sought to defuse a major threat to his reelection campaign by blaming Congress for failing to back his reforms.
For Trump, a hard anti-immigration stance has been central to his political identity for years, and he has repeatedly vowed to crack down on crossings from Mexico as he seeks a return to the White House.
The rivals are set to visit different parts of the border in Texas on Thursday, setting up a notable split-screen moment less than eight months before Americans go to the polls.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment after Trump officials claimed without evidence that Biden had hurriedly planned his trip after Trump's visit was announced.
"I don't have a reaction to the former president, I am not going to speak to his schedule," Jean-Pierre said, adding that Biden would meet with border patrol agents, law enforcement and local leaders in Brownsville, Texas.
"He will reiterate his calls for congressional Republicans to stop playing politics and to provide the funding needed for additional US Border Patrol agents, more asylum officers, fentanyl detection technology and more," she said.
- Two border towns, one day -
Jean-Pierre also declined to confirm if the president would meet with migrants after criticism that he did not do so on a previous visit.
Trump, who will head to Eagle Pass, about 300 miles (480 kilometers) to the west of Brownsville, unleashed a fresh social media outburst over migration.
"Vicious gangs and gang members are pouring into our country from South America, and from all over the world... deposited into the Good Ole' USA by the tens of thousands" Trump said. "Biden will never be able to handle it."
A Trump spokesman said that "Biden chasing us to the border on the same day shows just how big of a problem this is for him."
Republicans blame Biden's policies favoring the right to asylum for the flow of migrants, while the White House says that Trump's party is deliberately sabotaging a bipartisan attempt to find a solution.
The latest bill, which has stalled in the Senate after the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives pledged to torpedo it, would be "the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border in decades," Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One as Biden headed to New York for a campaign event.
Public concern about illegal immigration is higher under Biden than it was under the last two administrations, according to a new poll.
It said a majority of Americans now support building a border wall -- a flagship Trump policy -- for the first time since Monmouth started asking the question in 2015.
"Illegal immigration has taken center stage as a defining issue this presidential election year," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
"Other Monmouth polling found this to be Biden's weakest policy area, including among his fellow Democrats."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Fresh wave of rainfall in AJK continues for the second consecutive day
Babar, bowlers help Pakistan level series 2-2 against New Zealand
Attack in restive Chilean province leaves three police officers dead
PM, Saudi Royal court advisor discuss ways to boost economic ties
England clinch third successive Women's Six Nations Grand Slam
DC Bahawalnagar leads fight for fair bread prices
Sheffield Utd relegated from Premier League
02 proclaimed offenders arrested by Wah Police
Pakistan level T20I series with nine-run victory over New Zealand
Minister meets Chinese Consul General, discusses bilateral cooperation, Chinese ..
MS Children Hospital takes over charge
3 dacoits arrested, illegal weapons recovered
More Stories From World
-
Pro-Palestinian protests embroil US colleges, prompting arrests
6 hours ago -
Depleted Milan hold Juve to close in on Champions League
6 hours ago -
RugbyU: French Top 14 results
7 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results -- 3rd update
7 hours ago -
Italy summons Russian envoy over Ariston subsidiary takeover
7 hours ago -
Italy summons Russian envoy over Ariston subsidiary takeover
7 hours ago
-
Liverpool's Premier League title hopes suffer blow, Sheffield Utd relegated
7 hours ago -
England clinch Women's Six Nations Grand Slam
8 hours ago -
Mullins breaks 70 year hiatus to be crowned British champion trainer
8 hours ago -
Liverpool Premier League title hopes suffer blow, Sheffield Utd relegated
8 hours ago -
Attack in restive Chilean province leaves three police officers dead
9 hours ago -
Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes off Indonesia's Java island: authorities
9 hours ago