(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Governor J.B. Pritzker called President Joe Biden's latest directive on limiting migrants crossing the southern border “imperfect,” but he suggested that it is necessary.
Pritzker has been outspoken during the migrant crisis. He’s criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for sending asylum seekers who crossed into his state on to Chicago, and he's urged Biden to take action.
The president’s plan, which was unveiled on Tuesday, would bar migrants from being granted asylum when U.S. officials deem that the southern border is overwhelmed.
On Wednesday, Pritzker made it clear that refusing entry to migrants when the numbers are too high isn't his desired solution, but didn’t go as far as to fault Biden for his action.
“Look, all of the solutions that have been discussed over the last year are imperfect solutions,” he said. “There needs to be a solution, however, and it should be a bipartisan one. I think we need comprehensive immigration reform, but there was a bill earlier this year that Republicans and Democrats came together on — and that President Biden was willing to lead.”
He noted that there had been a potential bipartisan agreement on Immigration reform in the works, but it fell apart when former President Donald Trump urged Republicans not to make any deals with Democrats on the matter ahead of the elections.
“We’d like the Congress to take action, but the Republican controlled House is unwilling to do so; there are not enough Democrats to overcome a filibuster in the Senate to take action, so the president is using whatever tools he has to do what is necessary,” Pritzker said.
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