Confronting the fraught politics of immigration, President Biden wants to focus attention on the decision by Republicans in Congress, egged on by former President Donald J. Trump, to block a bipartisan deal that would provide an infusion of money for border security and allow the president to close off the border to asylum seekers.
On the defensive, Republicans have escalated their longstanding effort to tie migrants to heinous crimes.
Both strategies were on full display on Thursday night as Mr. Biden delivered his State of the Union address.
The dynamic has Mr. Biden, who heading into the general election campaign has signaled a harder line on immigration, walking a careful path, as his clash with Republicans on Thursday night demonstrated.
He at once promised to bring back “order” at the border while also vowing not to assail migrants in the manner of Mr. Trump and his allies.
Persons:
Biden, Donald J, Trump, Laken Riley
Organizations:
Republicans
Locations:
Georgia, Venezuelan