During a hearing held by the House Judiciary Committee on the topic of illegal immigration and the cost of social services, Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) voiced her concerns about President Biden’s approach to border policies. Jayapal highlighted issues related to border enforcement and access to asylum while addressing claims that the administration is not enforcing immigration laws.
Jayapal criticized the current atmosphere of fearmongering and expressed reservations about the heavy-handed approach employed by the Biden administration in recent months. Specifically, she expressed concerns about regulations that restrict asylum access and the use of expedited processing for families seeking asylum.
In comparing the Biden administration to the previous Trump administration, Jayapal pointed out that a similar number of migrants have been removed from the U.S. during the same timeframe. She cited statistics indicating that since the end of Title 42 last year, over 400,000 individuals, including 65,000 family unit members and children, have been either removed or returned to Mexico. This figure nearly matches the number of removals during the fiscal year 2019 under former President Trump, countering allegations that the Biden administration is not upholding immigration laws.
House Republicans have consistently criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies, particularly when it comes to border security. They have even suggested the possibility of withholding funding for Ukraine until an agreement is reached on border-related issues. Jayapal accused Republicans of using immigration policies as a political tool to divert attention from their lack of accomplishments. She asserted that they were attempting to scapegoat immigrants by discussing undocumented immigrants’ use of social services.
Jayapal clarified that, according to U.S. laws, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for the majority of federal benefits. Furthermore, she contested the claim that immigrants are a drain on the economy, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of their economic impact.
