Joe Biden and Donald Trump trade blame at US border in duelling election-year visits
- Trump described an influx of immigrants as a ‘Biden invasion’, while the US president criticised Republican lawmakers for rejecting a bipartisan border deal
- Biden has been on the defensive on the issue, and has said he would ‘shut down the border’ if given new authority by Congress
US President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, his likely Republican opponent in the November election, made duelling visits to the US-Mexico border on Thursday as an influx of immigrants has become a dominant issue for voters.
Biden, who has been on the defensive on the matter in recent months, was in the border town of Brownsville, Texas, where he criticised Republican lawmakers for rejecting a bipartisan effort to toughen immigration policies after Trump told them not to pass it and give Biden a policy victory.
“They desperately need more resources,” Biden said after being briefed by border patrol agents and walking alongside the Rio Grande river that separates Brownsville and Mexico.
“Here’s what I would say to Mr Trump … instead of telling members of Congress to block this legislation, join me, or I’ll join you, in telling the Congress to pass this bipartisan security bill,” he added, saying his proposed measures would speed up the asylum process and deter crossings.
Trump, who looks set to face Biden in what polls predict will be a close election on November 5, was briefed by officials with Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the river before speaking at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, flanked by officials.