The US Senate came to an hours-long standstill on the Covid stimulus as negotiations threatened to derail a $1.9 trillion relief legislation that is critical to Joe Biden’s efforts to combat the pandemic.
As the president made a plea to pass the bill, Donald Trump was focusing on the “spiralling tsunami” of migrants on the US Mexico border in a furious statement blaming Biden for the overwhelmed border agencies. The situation is becoming so dire the CDC is reportedly lifting a Covid safeguard requiring shelters stay at 50 per cent capacity to maintain distancing.
The White House said it doesn't take counsel from Trump and has no plans to change its immigration policies. “We’re going to tread our own path forward, and that includes treating children with humanity and respect and ensuring they’re safe when they cross our borders,” press secretary Jen Psaki said.
While refusing to acknowledge a "crisis" on the border, Psaki agreed that the Biden administration's change of policy on kicking out unaccompanied minors "obviously" meant more children would remain in the country.
As the number of migrant children apprehended at the border increased by 583 per cent under the Biden administration, a new poll found almost half the country disapproves of the president ending the construction of Trump’s border wall.
The Harvard University and Harris Insights and Analytics poll conducted in February found 47 per cent of Americans disapproved of ending construction on the wall. The presidents executive orders reducing deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of non-violent crimes also received 55 per cent disapproval.
It comes as US border resources are being overwhelmed with an average of 321 migrant children taken into custody per day, according to internal documents from the Department of Health and Human services reported by Axios.
In his statement, Trump called on Biden to complete his border wall project, saying it “save thousands of lives”.
