US vice president Kamala Harris will lead the country’s response to the latest surge in asylum seekers arriving at the US border with Mexico from Central America as it struggles to find temporary housing for hundreds of unaccompanied children.
Joe Biden will meanwhile give his first press conference as president on Thursday, 64 days into his reign, with questions on immigration, the coronavirus vaccine rollout, infrastructure and gun control likely to be forthcoming.
The White House is reportedly mulling new executive orders to reform firearm ownership laws in the wake of two deadly mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, and Boulder, Colorado, within the last week. Mr Biden is “not waiting for anything to fail” in Congress, his press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Wednesday.
White House mulling new gun control orders
The Biden administration is reportedly mulling new executive orders to reform firearm ownership laws in the wake of two deadly mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, and Boulder, Colorado, within the last week.
The president is “not waiting for anything to fail” in Congress, his press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Wednesday.
Alex Woodward has the latest.
Biden to host first presidential press conference
The president will hold the first press session of his reign later today, 64 days on from his inauguration, with questions on immigration, the coronavirus vaccine rollout, infrastructure and gun control likely to be forthcoming.
Griffin Connolly has this on the key issues.
Harris to lead immigration response as border crisis deepens
US vice president Kamala Harris will lead the country’s response to the latest surge in asylum seekers arriving at the US border with Mexico from Central America as it struggles to find temporary housing for hundreds of unaccompanied children.
The immigration portfolio is the first specific assignment Joe Biden has delegated to his deputy.
The president’s decision signals the administration is redoubling its efforts to address concerns about the thousands of migrant children in US government care, as the overwhelmed Homeland Security and Health and Human Services Departments manage a rapid increase in arrival numbers.
“I asked her, the VP, today, because she’s the most qualified person to do it, to lead our efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle, and the countries that can help, need help in stemming the movement of so many folks, stemming the migration to our southern border,” Biden told reporters on Wednesday.
The veep had this to say about the immigration crisis on Monday — before (somewhat unwisely) laughing when asked whether she would visit the border, allowing conservative commentators to accuse her of refusing to take the issue seriously.
