On Sunday, January 8th, 2023, President Joe Biden made a trip to the Bridge of the Americas, where lines of northbound vehicles containing immigrants attempting to enter the United States continued to form. The attempted entry location is into El Paso, Texas, from Juárez, Mexico. This was the president’s first time visiting the U.S.-Mexico border since taking office, so it marked an important matter. Republicans have said that the president’s absence prior to visiting El Paso is proof that he is not serious about fighting illegal immigration over the southern border, therefore his brief trip was vital in the process of altering these opinions.
Despite controversial opinions regarding his visit, the purpose of the trip was to review border enforcement operations and discuss with local elected officials and community leaders who have been crucial partners in handling the unprecedented number of migrants escaping gang violence and political tyranny, according to the Biden administration and the president’s office.
A federal infrastructure investment of more than six hundred million dollars has been allocated to the Bridge of the Americas port, which is now undergoing renovations, and President Joe Biden was given a four hour tour of the bridge facilities by Hector Mancha, director of the CBP El Paso Field Office, and Ray Provencio, director of ports. During his visit to El Paso, the president was shown an example of a CBP K-9 smelling and checking a vehicle for smuggled Mexican bologna and fruit during the stop.
