Following the Biden administration’s renewal of calls for a pathway to citizenship to be included in any immigration deal, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reiterated his stance against amnesty for illegal immigrants already residing in the U.S.
McCarthy Maintained His Position
During his visit to the Arizona border, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was asked by Fox News about his previous statements regarding a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants as part of any immigration deal.
He maintained his position and reiterated that he remains opposed to any form of amnesty for illegal immigrants already in the country.
McCarthy emphasized the need to secure the border first, stating immigration reform cannot happen until it is done.
He expressed concerns about the lack of trust and the constant influx of people, with some claiming they were encouraged to come by the president himself.
Thank God someone cares about Americans!! Much Respect McCarthy and Republicans In The House!!🇺🇸House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Blasts Biden Administration Over Illegal Immigration, Fentanyl Crises https://t.co/XM3oIyDw11
— Angie (@angie_anson) February 17, 2023
As Democrats seek to reform the immigration system, the Biden administration has proposed a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.
This is a measure that has been met with resistance by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other Republicans who argue that border security must be the top priority.
On his first day in office, President Biden’s administration introduced legislation that included an eight-year path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who were in the U.S. prior to January 1, 2021.
That came as well as proposals for immediate eligibility for green cards for farmworkers, Temporary Protected Status recipients, and individuals who arrived in the U.S. as minors, also known as “Dreamers.”
Biden Administration Persistently Pushing for Immigration Bill to Pass
Despite Republican rejection of the immigration bill that included amnesty for illegal immigrants, the Biden administration has been persistent in pushing for the legislation to pass.
This has been evident through various officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and President Biden. These officials are persistent, not giving up as they continue to voice support for the bill, notwithstanding its lack of Republican support.
During the State of the Union address, President Biden called on Congress to act on immigration reform and then moved forward to propose a plan that would provide equipment and officers to secure the border.
He also advocated for a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers,” those on temporary status, farm workers, and essential workers.
Wow Speaker McCarthy is the best we’ve had since quite a while. Amnesty is officially dead under the Biden White House’s first term.
He must push to pass Roy’s border security bill and corner Democrats on our winning issue: immigration. We need to debunk the lies in SOTU https://t.co/R2OWWqGLk1— MearsheimerRealist (@R1Machiavellian) February 17, 2023
Speaker McCarthy stated Congress must first act to secure the border before addressing any comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, farm workers, and essential workers.
The White House responded to McCarthy’s visit by accusing him of political grandstanding and calling on House Republicans to focus on solutions to secure the border.
McCarthy, in turn, rejected the claims of the White House, stating that the administration’s plan was not working.
