Manchin Calls For Securing The Border

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) told his Republican colleagues in Congress that if they get the chance to secure the southern border, they should. The comments came amid a series of back-and-forth measures regarding the border following three million attempted crossings last year.

Manchin supported a renewed effort to pass a border bill. He said that it would be “better than what it is today.”

“I would encourage my Republican friends to – no matter what games you think that might be being played – when you get a chance to secure the border, take it. Take it because we need it that bad,” he said.

Manchin’s comments also came as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that he would reintroduce the attempted border bill defeated earlier this year. Many congressional Republicans believed that the bill was not strong enough and still allowed thousands of illegal immigrants to enter the country.

The bill was strongly opposed by former President Donald Trump, who Schumer credited with killing the original proposal.

The statements came as last year set a new record for the number of attempted border crossings. In 2023, more than three million migrants attempted to enter the country. This included December 2023’s new record of more than 300,000, the first time that that plateau had ever been reached.

Many congressional Republicans blame the current border situation on President Joe Biden and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In particular, Republicans point to Biden ending Trump’s Title 42 asylum program.

Despite Manchin’s rhetoric, in April he voted against impeaching DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on charges that he allowed the border crisis to happen.

NEW: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) explains his vote against impeaching DHS's Alejandro Mayorkas

President Biden deserves some blame for the border, he says, adding that "my Republican friends in Congress also bear the responsibility of making it worse." pic.twitter.com/9ssequGz6p

— Nathan Worcester (@nnworcester) April 17, 2024

Despite the efforts by Schumer and Manchin, it appeared unlikely that the prospective border bill would pass. There is significant opposition among Republicans in both chambers, and it would likely not make it past a filibuster in the Senate, should it occur.

Biden indicated that if the border bill passed both houses of Congress, he would sign it.