Over a dozen House Democrats have sided with their Republican colleagues to condemn President Joe Biden’s border and immigration policies. Thirteen Democratic representatives on Wednesday voted in support of House Resolution 1112, “Denouncing the Biden administration’s immigration policies.” Another 210 Republicans also voted to pass the Resolution, with 191 Democrats voting against, and seven Republicans and eight Democrats not voting.
The resolution states that the Biden administration and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “have created the worst border security crisis in the Nation’s history;” “systematically dismantled effective border security measures and interior immigration enforcement;” “incentivized 9,500,000 illegal aliens from all around the world, including criminal aliens and suspected terrorists, to arrive at the southwest border;” “allowed at least 6,400,000 illegal aliens from the southwest border to travel to American communities;” and ignored, violated, or manipulated U.S. immigration law and asylum arrangements to “purposely” facilitate the ongoing border crisis.
The resolution further: “affirms the Biden administration has taken executive actions that created the current border crisis … denounces the Biden administration’s open borders policies, which allowed Laken Riley’s illegal alien alleged murderer to enter the United States and ensured he would not be removed until it was too late — if at all… condemns the public safety crisis caused by the Biden administration’s open-borders policies … urges the Biden administration to rescind its open-borders policies; and … implores the Biden administration to implement policies that end his administration’s border crisis.”
Democrats Nikki Budzinski (Ill.), Yadira Caraveo (Colo.), Angie Craig (Minn.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), Sharice Davids (Kan.), Don Davis (N.C.), Jared Golden (Maine), Josh Harder (Calif.), Steven Horsford (Nev.), Susie Lee (Nev.), Mary Peltola (Alaska), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.), and Eric Sorensen (Ill.). Politico noted that the Democrats are “mostly from competitive seats in this fall’s elections.”
Increasingly, the illegal immigration crisis at America’s southern border has become a galvanizing issue for voters. Polls have shown that Biden’s popularity and job approval rating have been damaged by his handling of the border crisis. A Monmouth University poll in February found that immigration is Biden’s weakest policy area, “including among his fellow Democrats.” Voters consistently rate immigration as a top issue for them heading into the November election, often just behind inflation and the economy.
An Axios/Harris poll found last month that over half (51%) of American voters now support the mass deportation of illegal immigrants. A majority (56%) of voters also believed that illegal immigration is linked to rising crime rates in the U.S. According to the poll, the top concerns surrounding illegal immigration are increased crime rates, drugs, and violence; burdening taxpayers; and the increased risk of terrorism and a threat to national security. A Rasmussen Reports survey previously found that almost 70% of Americans (including over half of Democrats) believe that illegal immigration is linked to increased crime rates.
Earlier this year, a Monmouth University poll found that over 80% of Americans consider illegal immigration to be a “serious problem,” including over 60% who consider it “very serious.” That poll also found that a third (32%) of Americans believe illegal immigrants are more likely to commit violent crimes than American citizens are. Additionally, 53% of Americans reportedly support building a border wall.
S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.
