Johnson Slams Biden Admin Border Policy In First Floor Speech

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has used his first formal speech on the floor of the House of Representatives to pan the Biden administration's US-Mexico border policy and advocate for impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, which was advanced from a House committee yesterday.

• Johnson outlined, "64 Biden actions to weaken border," including "unilaterally" terminating work on the Trump administration's US-Mexico border wall, and argued that Biden can "secure the border immediately" through executive action, a claim which the White House rejects.
• In a sign of the current polarisation in Congress, Johnson says if border crossings are, "anything higher than zero," then the policy is a failure.
• The highly combative speech gives little indication that Johnson has softened his opposition to a bipartisan Senate deal to overhaul policy at the border, despite the fact that the final text of the bill hasn't yet been released.
• Opposition from Johnson and Trump supporters suggests that, regardless of the contents of the bill, the House is likely to reject the deal, call for more hardline measures, and keep the issue live ahead of the general election.
• Johnson again states that the House-passed HR2 "Secure the Border Act" is ready and waiting for a Senate vote. Note: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has dismissed outright the prospect of considering HR2.
• If the House maintains opposition to the bipartisan Senate border deal, then the fate of President Biden's USD$110 billion supplemental package, which includes funding for Ukraine and other US allies, is uncertain.