House Republican leaders announced Wednesday that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) spoke with President Biden about the southern border as the immigration crisis worsens.
“Chairman Johnson spoke with President Biden today. He strongly encouraged the President to use his executive powers to secure our southern border,” Prime Minister Johnson's press secretary Raj Shah said in a statement.
Mr. Shah said Mr. Johnson also reiterated what was discussed in a letter he sent to Mr. Biden in late December, similarly calling for him to act unilaterally on the border issue.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke with President Biden on Wednesday. (Getty Images)
It was not immediately clear who initiated the call. Johnson's office told FOX News Digital it had nothing further to add in response to his questions.
Fox News Digital also reached out to the White House for comment on the conversation.
“You will end the Remain in Mexico policy, reinstate catch-and-release, suspend asylum cooperation agreements with other countries, ignore existing regulations against parole abuse, and violate U.S. sovereignty,” Johnson told Biden at the time. “This clearly compromised safety,” the letter said. Stop construction of the border wall. ”
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Texas National Guard Border Patrol agents as hundreds of migrants attempt to reach the United States from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on January 2, 2024. (David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The speaker has made the border crisis a cornerstone of the House Republican majority's priorities this year, leading a delegation of more than 60 members to Eagle Pass, Texas, earlier this month.
Their conversation took place just a week before the first of two government funding deadlines. Congress has until January 19 to agree on a way to avoid a partial government shutdown, with a further deadline looming on February 2.
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It's unclear if they discussed that topic or if the conversation was simply about the border.
On January 9, 2024, illegal immigrants arrive during a storm at James Madison High School on Bedford Street in Brooklyn, New York City. (Gardiner Anderson, NY Daily News, via Getty Images)
Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York announced a deal on Sunday aimed at averting a government shutdown.
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This includes setting the government's discretionary spending level for the remainder of the fiscal year at $1.59 trillion, and the approximately $69 billion negotiated in the spring between former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Mr. Biden. It also includes additional collateral agreements for US dollars.
Johnson's agreement will offset about $16 billion of this year's funding.
