Democratic Senator Chris Murphy defended the Biden administration’s response to the border crisis in an interview with ABC News.
When asked why it took so long to address record border crossings, Murphy pointed to an immigration reform bill sent by Biden in his first week that was blocked in Congress.
He argued the administration instituted tough asylum rules that were struck down in courts due to lacking legislative action, and that Republicans have shown no interest in reform.
“I think it is time for the president to use all the leverage that he has to get a long-term ceasefire…It has to happen tomorrow."
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy tells @JonKarl that he has urged Pres. Biden to push for a ceasefire in Gaza. https://t.co/eifr9vqO0H pic.twitter.com/9X66kZ069Z
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 3, 2024
ABC’s Jon Karl said, “But let me ask you, this is obviously three years in. I know you spent several months negotiating this.”
“But why did it take so long for the president to address this crisis of the border in terms of the flow of migrants?” asked Karl.
Sen. Murphy said, “Well, I don’t know that that’s fair. In the first week that the president was in office, he sent to Congress a comprehensive immigration and border reform,” Murphy began in his response.
Karl asked, “But wait a minute, that bill was to provide a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented citizens, residents here in the country. It was not a border security bill. It was an [amnesty]. It didn’t tighten the asylum rules the way yours did, did it?”
Murphy said, “It changes the calculus of coming to the country. And the president instituted a very tough new regulation that does stop people at the border, does the asylum calculation. It, as expected, was blocked by the courts because he needs, he needs legislative action.”
“And Republicans have made it very clear that they have no interest in coming to the table in the immigration and border reform, and frankly, had we had this conversation a year ago, the calculation would have been no different. Republicans have made it absolutely crystal clear, they want the border to be a mess. Donald Trump has told them so,” said Murphy.
Karl said, “But you know that — you’ve seen poll after poll. I could cite the latest Quinnipiac, but there’s been poll after poll showing an overwhelming majority of Americans disapprove of how President Biden has handled the border and we’ve also seen the flow over the border dramatically increased under the president.”
Murphy said, “What we also know is that under Donald Trump’s presidency, crossings at the border were at 10-year high, and this is exactly why.”
He continued, “I think the president and Democrats should go on the offense because the vast majority of the country believes that we should have robust legal immigration, but they want tighter control of the border. And right now, there’s only one party that can deliver that. Only the Democrats support pathways to citizenship, support expanding legal pathways into the country, and a tough border law.”
Adding, “Republicans used the issue the immigration to try and divide us from each other, and now, on the record, opposing the toughest border reform bill, the toughest border security bill in decades.”
Murphy claimed Republicans want to use immigration to divide Americans and are now opposing the toughest border bill in decades from Democrats.
He said the solution lies in border security and addressing conditions in countries people are fleeing from.
While acknowledging calls to change sanctuary city policies, Murphy stressed the need to treat immigrants compassionately but focus on securing the border rather than pushing undocumented immigrants into the shadows once inside the country.
Karl asked, “We saw New York Mayor Adams call for drastic changes to New York City’s sanctuary policies. Has the whole Sanctuary City movement, did it go too far? Have we seen a rollback of that? Should there be a rollback of that?”
Murphy replied, “Well, you know, we treat immigrants compassionately in Connecticut as well. And, listen, I think that speaks to the best of this country.”
He added, “Ultimately, the solution has to be on the border and in the countries that people are fleeing. I don’t think it’s in the best interest of this country to push immigrants into the shadows once they are here. So, to me, the focus has to be on the border.”
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