Statement from President Joe Biden on Bipartisan Senate National Security Agreement

For too long, going back decades, the immigration system has been broken. It’s time to fix it. That’s why over two months ago I instructed members of my administration to work with a bipartisan group of Senators to – finally – seriously address the issue. And, that’s what they’ve done – working around the clock, through the holidays and over weekends. Now we’ve reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it.

It will 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. It will make our asylum process fairer and more efficient while protecting the most vulnerable. It will expedite work permits so that those who are here and qualify can get to work more quickly. It will create more opportunities for families to come together – through short-term visits as well as increased permanent lawful pathways. It ensures the most vulnerable, unaccompanied young children, have paid legal representation. And it will provide the resources I have repeatedly requested to secure the border by adding border patrol agents, immigration judges, asylum officers, and cutting-edge inspection machines to help detect and stop the flow of fentanyl. While this agreement doesn’t address everything I would have wanted, these reforms are essential for making our border more orderly, secure, fair, and humane.

The bipartisan national security agreement would also address two other important priorities. It allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraine’s freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia’s aggression. As I have said before, if we don’t stop Putin’s appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won’t limit himself to just Ukraine and the costs for America will rise. This agreement also provides Israel what they need to protect their people and defend itself against Hamas terrorists. And it will provide life-saving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people.

There is more work to be done to get it over the finish line. But I want to be clear about something: If you believe, as I do, that we must secure the border now, doing nothing is not an option. Working with my administration, the United States Senate has done the hard work it takes to reach a bipartisan agreement. Now, House Republicans have to decide. Do they want to solve the problem? Or do they want to keep playing politics with the border? I’ve made my decision. I’m ready to solve the problem. I’m ready to secure the border. And so are the American people. I know we have our divisions at home but we cannot let partisan politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. I refuse to let that happen. In moments like these, we have to remember who we are. We’re the United States of America and there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together.

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.

[수십 년 전으로 거슬러 올라가면 너무 오랫동안 이민 시스템이 무너졌습니다. 이제 문제를 해결할 시간입니다. 그렇기 때문에 저는 두 달 전에 행정부 구성원들에게 양당의 상원의원 그룹과 협력하여 마침내 이 문제를 진지하게 해결하도록 지시했습니다. 그리고 그것이 바로 그들이 해왔던 일입니다. 휴일과 주말에도 24시간 내내 일했습니다. 이제 우리는 수십 년 만에 가장 엄격하고 공정한 국경 개혁을 포함하는 초당적인 국가 안보 협정에 합의했습니다. 나는 그것을 강력히 지지한다.

이는 우리나라를 더 안전하게 만들고, 국경을 더욱 안전하게 만들고, 국가로서의 가치에 부합하는 합법적 이민을 유지하면서 사람들을 공정하고 인도적으로 대할 것입니다. 이는 국경이 압도될 때 대통령으로서 나에게 국경을 폐쇄할 수 있는 새로운 비상 권한을 부여할 것입니다. 이는 가장 취약한 사람들을 보호하는 동시에 우리의 망명 절차를 더욱 공정하고 효율적으로 만들 것입니다. 이는 취업 허가를 신속히 처리하여 여기에 있고 자격을 갖춘 사람들이 더 빨리 일할 수 있도록 할 것입니다. 단기 방문과 영구적인 합법적 경로 확대를 통해 가족이 함께 모일 수 있는 기회가 더 많아질 것입니다. 이는 가장 취약하고 보호자가 없는 어린 아동이 법적 대리 비용을 지불하도록 보장합니다. 그리고 국경 순찰대원, 이민 판사, 망명 담당관, 펜타닐 유출을 감지하고 차단하는 데 도움이 되는 최첨단 검사 기계를 추가함으로써 국경 보안을 위해 제가 반복적으로 요청한 자원을 제공할 것입니다. 이 합의가 제가 원했던 모든 것을 다루지는 않지만, 이러한 개혁은 우리 국경을 더욱 질서 있고 안전하며 공정하고 인도적으로 만드는 데 필수적입니다.

초당적인 국가 안보 협정은 또한 두 가지 중요한 우선순위를 다룰 것입니다. 이를 통해 미국은 전 세계 파트너들과 함께 우크라이나의 자유를 옹호하고 러시아의 공격으로부터 자국을 방어할 수 있는 능력을 지원하기 위해 중요한 작업을 계속할 수 있습니다. 내가 이전에 말했듯이, 우리가 푸틴의 우크라이나 권력과 통제에 대한 욕구를 막지 못한다면 푸틴은 자신을 우크라이나에만 국한시키지 않을 것이며 미국의 비용은 증가할 것입니다. 또한 이 협정은 이스라엘이 자국민을 보호하고 하마스 테러리스트로부터 스스로를 방어하는 데 필요한 것을 제공합니다. 그리고 팔레스타인 사람들에게 생명을 구하는 인도적 지원을 제공할 것입니다.

결승선을 통과하려면 해야 할 일이 더 많습니다. 하지만 한 가지 분명히 하고 싶습니다. 여러분도 저처럼 지금 국경을 확보해야 한다고 믿는다면 아무것도 하지 않는 것이 선택 사항이 아니라는 것입니다. 미국 상원은 우리 행정부와 협력하여 초당적 합의에 도달하기 위해 필요한 노력을 다해왔습니다. 이제 하원 공화당 의원들이 결정해야 합니다. 그들은 문제를 해결하고 싶어합니까? 아니면 국경을 두고 계속 정치를 하고 싶어 할까요? 나는 결정을 내렸다. 문제를 해결할 준비가 되었습니다. 국경을 확보할 준비가 되었습니다. 그리고 미국 사람들도 마찬가지다. 국내에 분열이 있다는 것을 알고 있지만 당파적 정치가 위대한 국가로서 우리의 책임을 방해하도록 놔둘 수는 없습니다. 나는 그런 일이 일어나도록 거부합니다. 이런 순간에 우리는 자신이 누구인지 기억해야 합니다. 우리는 미국이고 우리가 함께 한다면 우리의 능력을 넘어서는 것은 아무것도 없습니다.

저는 의회가 함께 모여 이 초당적 합의를 조속히 통과시킬 것을 촉구합니다. 즉시 법에 서명할 수 있도록 내 책상으로 가져가세요.]