‘Necessary and decisive’: NC Rep. Wiley Nickel on border action from Biden

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — “I applaud Joe Biden for taking necessary and decisive action to secure our southern border. This is a really important first step,” said Congressman Wiley Nickel.

Nickel represents North Carolina’s 13th congressional district and said he stands with President Biden’s decision to ban migrants from claiming asylum if they cross outside of official points of entry into the U.S. from Mexico. This would go into effect when daily crossings reach 2,500 people, a number far lower than we have been seeing.

Some democrats argue the executive action goes too far. Republicans question the timing.

North Carolina Republican congressman Greg Murphy posted on X, “President Biden has had over three years to secure our border but chooses to act just months out from an election.”

Representative Virginia Foxx posted, “President Biden had the authority to secure the border the entire time. His Executive Order today is proof positive that this border catastrophe is his own. It only half addresses the problem – we must fully return to President Trump’s border policies. It’s that simple.”

Nickel is quick to remind people that the Senate came close to a bi-partisan immigration bill but it was dead on arrival after Donald Trump told Republican leadership to quash it.

“Frankly, voters in November are going to remember that Republicans were the ones not willing to work together on this issue, where President Biden is willing to go halfway and push one of the most conservative border deals we’ve ever seen in the US,” said Nickel.

Executive action by a U.S. president can only do so much, and even that may be challenged in court. Congress holds the purse strings and right now those strings remain in a tangled knot.

“It’s up to Congress to fund the government, to fund those needed border security agents, to fund immigration judges, to fund those working asylum claims, he can’t do that alone. We need to provide him those resources,” said Nickel.