Biden, Trump to campaign near US-Mexico border on same day
3 Min Read
Immigration is a key issue in the upcoming election, with both politicians aiming to win over voters with their respective agendas.
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Concertina wire is stretched through Shelby Park where Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors held a news conference along the Rio Grande to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas (AP)
The two main contestants for the 2024 elections are scheduled to make separate visits near the US-Mexico border on Thursday in a bid to gather more voters.
Immigration is a key issue in the upcoming election, with both politicians aiming to win over voters with their respective agendas.
While Republicans have pointed fingers at Biden for his handling of the migrant crisis, Biden has attempted to deflect these criticisms by attributing the lack of progress to Congress's failure to support his proposed reforms.
Trump, on the other hand, maintains his staunch anti-immigration stance, which has long been a cornerstone of his political persona, and he has consistently pledged to tighten measures against border crossings from Mexico in his pursuit of a White House comeback.
Did Biden rush to schedule a trip after Trump announced his?
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre refrained from commenting following claims from Trump officials that Biden hastily arranged his trip after Trump's visit was announced.
"I don't have a reaction to the former president, I am not going to speak to his schedule," Jean-Pierre said, adding that Biden would meet with border patrol agents, law enforcement and local leaders in Brownsville, Texas.
"He will reiterate his calls for congressional Republicans to stop playing politics and to provide the funding needed for additional US Border Patrol agents, more asylum officers, fentanyl detection technology and more," she said.
Read more: Biden's approval rating drops to near record low record of 38%
Why is this a sensitive issue?
Tensions between Texan and US authorities have been on the rise as of late, especially since a Supreme Court ruling on January 22 allowed federal agents to remove razor wire placed along the border. Despite the legal ruling, Texas remains committed to increasing border security measures, with state Governor Greg Abbott declaring that Texas is confronting an "invasion" and cited the state's "constitutional authority to defend and protect itself." These developments have fueled speculation about the possibility of Texas becoming an independent state.
Read more: Migrant crisis pushing Texans to consider 'Texit': Newsweek
In an interview with Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum in January, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said that the state will continue to install razor wire along the US-Mexico border.
"We are putting up wire ... everywhere we can. We will continue. We will not stop. If they cut it, we will replace it," Patrick said.
Calls for a 'National Divorce'
A report by Chatham House on February 22 detailed the rise of secessionist sentiments among Republicans, noting that the upcoming election is unlikely to solve the matter.
Citing results from a recent poll conducted by YouGov, about 54% of strong Republicans believe it is very or somewhat likely that there will be a civil war in the US within the next decade. Similarly, four in ten (40%) strong Democrats share this belief.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a right-wing Republican from Georgia, has advocated for a 'national divorce', suggesting a separation of states based on political affiliations.
The sentiment resonated with a significant portion of the population, as evidenced by a survey showing that 23% of Americans support their state seceding from the Union.
