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Streamline the immigration process, Biden urges Congress in State of Union message
The president also highlighted the need for a bipartisan deal aimed at bolstering border security
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Streamline the immigration process, Biden urges Congress in State of Union message / X/ @POTUS
In a highly anticipated State of the Union address to the nation, President Joe Biden outlined his administration's comprehensive plans on immigration reform, border security, and public safety. The president emphasized the importance of creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, acknowledging their significant contributions to the American economy and society.
"We need to act. And if my predecessor is watching instead of playing politics and pressuring members of Congress to block this bill, join me in telling Congress to pass it!” Biden said.
Folks, we can fight about the border or we can fix it.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 8, 2024
I’m ready to fix it.
Pass my bipartisan border security bill, the toughest set of border security reforms we’ve ever seen in this country.
The president called for bipartisan support for comprehensive immigration reform, stressing the need to address border security while safeguarding the rights of asylum seekers. Plans include significant investments in technology and infrastructure at the border and collaboration with neighboring countries to address the root causes of migration.
"To take on crimes of domestic violence, I am ramping up federal enforcement of the Violence Against Women Act, that I proudly wrote, so we can finally end the scourge of violence against women in America! And there’s another kind of violence I want to stop," he added.
Acknowledging the backlog of immigration cases, President Biden urged Congress to streamline the immigration process, making it more efficient and humane. He specifically called for legislation providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers, and a reform of the legal immigration system for fairness and accessibility.
"Last year, the murder rate saw the sharpest decrease in history, and violent crime fell to one of the lowest levels in more than 50 years. But we have more to do," said Biden.
The president also highlighted the need for a bipartisan deal aimed at bolstering border security. This agreement includes the recruitment of additional border security agents, hiring more immigration judges to address a backlog of 2 million cases, and the appointment of asylum officers. The proposed policies aim to expedite case resolutions from six years to six months, with additional measures to counter drug smuggling.
"I’m directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the Gaza coast that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. No U.S. boots will be on the ground."
Tonight, I’m directing the U.S. military to establish a temporary pier on the Gaza coast that can receive shipments of food, water, medicine, and shelter.
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 8, 2024
To Israel, I say humanitarian assistance cannot be secondary.
Protecting and saving innocent lives must be a priority.
Switching gears, the president affirmed Israel's right to target Hamas while expressing concern for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He called for an immediate six-week ceasefire, directing the U.S. military to establish a temporary pier for humanitarian aid. President Biden urged Israel to facilitate aid access, emphasizing that humanitarian assistance should not be used as a bargaining chip.
On the domestic front, President Biden highlighted the success of his American Rescue Plan in making the largest investment in public safety. He noted a historic decrease in the murder rate and violent crime, while calling for continued efforts to invest in community police officers, mental health workers, and community violence intervention.
"Keep building public trust, as I’ve been doing by taking executive action on police reform, and calling for it to be the law of the land, directing my Cabinet to review the federal classification of marijuana, and expunging thousands of convictions for mere possession, because no one should be jailed for using or possessing marijuana!" said Biden.
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