‘IT’S A LITTLE LATE’: Border residents respond to Biden’s first-ever border trip, pledge to stiffen policies

YUMA, Ariz. – President Biden pledged to support stricter immigration policies ahead of his first trip to the US-Mexico border, but some Arizonans told Fox News the administration needed to address the issue sooner.

“It’s a little late to do that now,” a resident of the border town of Yuma told Fox News. “Everyone down there is already here.”

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“He needs to hit every border town here and figure out what the problem is and how we can improve that,” he continued.

A Yuma resident says Biden should visit every border city and find solutions to improve border security. (Fox News/Megan Myers)

“I don’t see it ever stopping and it’s not my concern,” Rafael said. “That’s what made this country what it is.”

The White House announced Wednesday that Biden will visit the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, on Sunday after a surge in migrants in the area. An El Paso city official told Fox News in December that the increase in immigrants was unsustainable after Customs and Border Protection reported a 255% increase from Oct. 1 to mid-December compared to last year.

“I’m not against immigration, but the border needs to be closed,” Jim said.

‘WORK’: ARIZONA BORDER RESIDENTS EXPLODE DECISION TO REMOVE COUNTRY WALL

In the Yuma sector, where Jim lives, immigration crossings increased 171% between 2021 and 2022, according to CBP. A city official told Fox News that the influx of immigrants led one family to hire private security guards and continues to overwhelm the city’s resources.

In Yuma, Arizona, immigration encounters broke records in 2022, increasing 171% from a year earlier, according to Customs and Border Protection. (Courtesy: Jonathan Lines)

“I believe in humanitarianism and compassion, but we must have law or we have lawlessness,” said one man.

Biden also announced a number of border measures, including an expansion of Title 42 deportations. However, Arizona residents told Fox News that more needs to be done to address border security.

“There is no easy solution,” the man said. “I just think we should be firm and allow people to immigrate legally.”

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However, Rafael told Fox News that it is up to Congress to come up with bipartisan solutions to immigration concerns, not Biden.

“All the congressmen … are the ones who have to find a solution so that he can sign it,” Rafael said.

To hear more responses to Biden’s border trip, click here.

Megan Myers is an Associate Producer/Writer with Fox News Digital Originals.