President Biden challenges Trump to drop opposition to bipartisan border security bill

In a public speech in Brownsville, Texas --- Thursday, Feb 29th, President Joe Biden called out Donald Trump former president and current presidential candidate, and challenged him to drop his opposition to bipartisan Senate legislation that would bring more resources to deal with record migrant crossings as the two rivals faced off in a split-screen duel at the southern border.

"I understand my predecessor is in Eagle Pass today," the president said, shortly after Trump spoke about 300 miles away at the border crossing that's become a flashpoint in the 2024 election.

"What I would say to Mr. Trump, instead of playing policy with this issue, 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 border security bill," he said. "We can do it together, you know, and I know it's the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country's ever seen. So, instead of playing politics with the issue, why don't we just get together and get it done."

Biden continued and said it's "long past time to act," highlighting that Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House "needs to put this bill on the floor."

"The majority of Democrats and Republicans in both houses support this legislation until someone came along and said, don't do that, it'll benefit the incumbent," the president said. "That's a hell of a way to do business in America for such a serious problem. We need to act."

"You remember who the heck we work for? We work for the American people, not the Democratic Party, or the Republican Party. We work for the American people and let's remember who we are. We're the United States of America."

He also further said the Speaker of the House and other Republicans need to "show a little spine."

The American president reviewed multiple briefings concerning illegal immigrants and the challenges the customs face at the border.

Peter Flores, Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner outlined issues his agency deals with detecting narcotics and weapons at the border, highlighting the need for more funding.

Jennifer Higgins, deputy director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Asylum Officer Catisha Jackson also briefed the president

Jackson told the president she "loves being an asylum officer" but "we're overwhelmed."

"We have the wherewithal to do this, we have the capacity to do this," Biden responded to Jackson. "I promise you, we're going to fight like the devil to get you this bipartisan legislation that Republicans and Democrats supported."