Former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at the SEIU Unions For All Summit on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
History denial appears to be a running theme in politics — congresspeople respond with indignance to the opposite-party president for doing the same thing they supported when it was their guy in office (here); Republicans are the nation’s fixers of elections, even though the only modern election we’re sure was fixed was that of Kennedy; and if this video from Alyssa Milano is to be believed, it seems America was always about open borders, and we can’t change now.
But one historical reality Joe Biden got somewhat right recently was the Obama administration’s record number of deportations.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, while in office, President Barack removed nearly three million foreigners from U.S. soil.
Joe published his 6,658-word immigration overhaul on his website Wednesday, and he began with a definite left-wing take on the law: According to Biden, the tragic deaths of a father and child trying to illegally enter the country is our national shame:
“It is a moral failing and a national shame when a father and his baby daughter drown seeking our shores.”
Then a reference to more law:
“When children are locked away in overcrowded detention centers and the government seeks to keep them there indefinitely.”
Of course — and this is where the running of a career politician gets complicated — if he wanted to change our laws, why hasn’t he already done so? He’s a current member of the legislative body of the United States government.
To be clear, it’s a question, not an accusation.
But he’s certainly accusing The Donald:
“Trump has waged an unrelenting assault on our values and our history as a nation of immigrants. It’s wrong, and it stops when Joe Biden is elected president.”
But there were notable things he didn’t say. Promises he didn’t make. As observed by The Daily Caller, here are some things Joe left off his stated agenda:
- Stop all deporations
- Decriminalize illegal immigration
- Revamp the Department of Homeland Security (which includes both Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Joe did propose of bit of “do”: He wants to spend $4 billion on fighting the causes of illegal immigration in Central America.
He also aims to hire more judges and court workers dealing with border issues, and hold accountable any CBP or ICE personnel caught treating illegal immigrants by less than “professional standards.”
Additionally, he’ll reinstate DACA, get rid of for-profit detention centers, and end the Remain in Mexico program.
Okay, so what about the millions of deportations under his watch?
Earlier this month, he told Telemundo he had “nothing” to apologize for.
But Wednesday, he turned over a new leaf:
“Joe Biden understands the pain felt by every family across the U.S. that has had a loved one removed from the country, including under the Obama-Biden Administration, and he believes we must do better to uphold our laws humanely and preserve the dignity of immigrant families, refugees, and asylum-seekers.”
Well, it’s progress.
Will media now acknowledge it as well? Maybe; once they stop talking about Trump doing the same. Once…
-ALEX
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