ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp argued in an appearance on CNN early Monday that the Biden administration is not taking the migrant crisis at the southern border seriously, but said he and other Republican governors "stand ready to work with him."
Kemp was among the more than two dozen Republican governors who traveled to Texas over the weekend in a show of support for Gov. Greg Abbott's policies. Kemp earlier was part of a joint statement supporting the Texas governor, who has been at odds with the Biden administration over border security.
Kemp's appearance came as the U.S. Senate unveiled a new $118 billion border security and immigration bill. House Republicans have opposed the Senate deal, while the White House supports it.
Gov. Kemp argued on CNN that the Biden administration could act unilaterally, whether or not a bill passes Congress.
"I don't know if something gets done or it doesn't, that doesn't really matter. The president can act regardless of the legislation with policies that will stem this flow of illegal immigration in this country, that's all we're calling on him to do," Kemp said. "We stand ready to work with him on this issue."
Kemp added that "we need the president to act and protect the whole southern border across multiple states in our country."
The Georgia governor has been in support of Abbott's move to install razor wiring at a park where crossings have been frequent, in what has caused the most visible clash with the federal government. He did not specify any additional policies he would endorse in the CNN interview.
"I've been to the border five different times. I've been down there when the federal government and state government are working to secure the border and then I've been down there unfortunately in times like yesterday, where you have the state having to act on its own because this president will not act," Kemp said.
President Biden, in endorsing the Senate deal, said it would "make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation."
"It would give me, as President, a new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed. I urge Congress to come together and swiftly pass this bipartisan agreement. Get it to my desk so I can sign it into law immediately," Biden added.
The flashpoint is the riverfront park, Shelby Park, that is a popular corridor for migrants illegally entering the U.S.
Texas has installed rows of razor wire in the park and says more is being added after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Border Patrol agents to cut or remove the sharp metal barrier. The fencing has become one of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's most visible measures to deter migrants in the border city of Eagle Pass.
Texas seized control of the park in January and began denying entry to Border Patrol agents, escalating a feud between Abbott and President Joe Biden's administration, which the governor accuses of not doing enough to curb illegal crossings.
The number of crossings in Eagle Pass has recently fallen to a few hundred a day. Texas closed access to federal agents at Shelby Park after the number of crossings decreased sharply at the end of December. Mike Banks, who Abbott appointed last year to oversee Texas' border operations, described the park as a “magnet” for migrants trying to enter the country.