Kevin McCarthy Seeks Border Bipartisanship, Trump Wall Construction in Same Letter
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has simultaneously called for bipartisan cooperation and Donald Trump's border wall in a letter sent this week to President Joe Biden.
There is usually a surge in migrants arriving at the southern border in spring—and the numbers have risen this year. Republicans have rounded on the issue, claiming Biden's rollback of Trump policies has exacerbated the situation.
McCarthy sent his first letter to Biden about the border earlier this month, according to Axios. It read: "I feel compelled to express great concern with the manner in which your administration is approaching this crisis, but with hope that we can work together to solve it."
He reiterated these hopes in a second letter, released by his office on Thursday, stating: "Securing our border should not be a partisan issue."
This letter concluded: "Once again, Mr. President, I am requesting a meeting to discuss the crisis and relay what I personally saw on my trip to the border. If you are serious about securing our border and solving this crisis, then let's put our political differences aside for the betterment of our country.
"We can no longer continue to implement a strategy of inaction and denial. It is well past time we work together to stop the ongoing humanitarian and national security crisis happening at our southern border."
The letter published on Thursday listed several recommended actions, including restarting "construction on the wall in priority areas along the border and [dispersing] the proper security technology needed to complement the physical structure."
McCarthy also urged Biden to revive the Trump-era "Remain in Mexico" program. Other Republicans have called for its resumption.
The president paused construction of the border wall shortly after taking office in January.
"It shall be the policy of my administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall," Biden said. "I am also directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall."
Trump, who made the wall a key focus of his 2016 presidential campaign, has also called for its completion.
Biden has pushed forward with his plans to change migration policy. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has attributed the issues at the southern border to the previous administration having left a "dismantled and unworkable system"—a claim rejected by former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
The president is facing scrutiny from across the political spectrum over the surge at the border. While Republicans have questioned his policies, progressive Democrats have taken issue with the way people arriving at the border are treated. There have been specific concerns over the detention of unaccompanied minors.
Newsweek has contacted McCarthy's office and the White House for comment.
