If House Republicans don’t agree to a border bill that fails to secure the border while sending millions more taxpayer dollars to Ukraine and Israel, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will soon be “forced” to cut back on its operations at the dividing line between America and Mexico, the White House announced on Thursday.
Addressing reporters while aboard Air Force One, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre placed the blame for the administration’s failure to defend the United States against what many clearly see as an invasion on “congressional Republicans.”
“Because congressional Republicans are choosing partisan politics over our national security and refusing to pass the bipartisan national security agreement that includes significant border reforms and funding, over the coming weeks, ICE will be forced to reduce operations because of budget shortfalls,” she told reporters, according to Fox News Digital.
“We have asked Congress for additional funding and resources,” Jean-Pierre said, “and every time Congress has provided less than we asked for, or most recently, completely ignored our supplemental request.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently reported more than 3.2 million encounters with illegal immigrants at the border — “the highest ever recorded,” according to Fox News — but, without additional appropriations, “ICE would be forced to reduce its removal operations, its total detention capacity and more,” Jean-Pierre warned.
“When ICE can’t conduct these operations, our national security and public safety will be harmed,” she stated. “Speaker Johnson and congressional Republicans should be held accountable. This was their choice.”
On X, conservatives saw the press sec’s comments for exactly what they were: a thinly veiled threat against the security of this nation and the safety of its citizens.
No biggie, just a sitting president threatening to sacrifice more Americans if he doesn’t get his way pic.twitter.com/TGJeUsGX3n
— The Dank Knight (@capeandcowell) February 8, 2024
Always a winning argument to hold the American people hostage. Republicans should go straight to the poor communities being adversely affected by this and point out which party is doing this to them. No mercy.
— Mocking SF Values (@Mockingsfvalues) February 7, 2024
The government hates the citizens of this country.
— Louie (@reallouiehuey) February 7, 2024
Elon Musk replied with two emphatic exclamation points.
!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 8, 2024
And according to Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), it’s not only straight-up “blackmail,” it’s an “admission” of the Biden administration’s border guilt.
“This is blackmail. And an admission that Biden controls the level of illegal immigration,” Cotton wrote. “The entire border crisis is by design.”
This is blackmail.
And an admission that Biden controls the level of illegal immigration.
The entire border crisis is by design. https://t.co/V3AGjw8So0
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) February 8, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.