In response to mounting concerns over the United States' border with Mexico, a group of House Democrats from several key states has sent a letter urging President Biden to take immediate executive action. The lawmakers, representing Minnesota, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, among others, have called on the president to restore order at the Southern border and address the broken immigration system.

President Biden has faced criticism from both Republicans and some within his own party regarding his approach to immigration and border issues, particularly as the November general election approaches. CBS News polls conducted in April revealed that a majority of likely voters in battleground states consider the U.S.-Mexico border a significant factor in their decision for president.

White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández responded to the letter, stating that congressional Republicans prioritized partisan politics over national security and rejected the requests of border agents. He reiterated the administration's call for House Republicans to pass a bipartisan deal to secure the border, despite Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson's opposition to the proposal.

The collapse of a bipartisan border deal in the Senate earlier this year has provided Democrats an opportunity to respond to long-standing Republican criticisms on the issue. Led by Minnesota Democratic Representative Angie Craig, the letter highlights the failure of Republicans' efforts as a reason for President Biden to take action through executive powers.

The lawmakers implored the president to utilize all available tools, including executive action, to address security at the Southern border, combat the flow of illicit fentanyl, and establish a more orderly legal immigration system. The letter was signed by 15 Democratic House members, including Representative Elissa Slotkin, who is running for an open Senate seat in Michigan, as well as Representatives Susan Wild, Matt Cartwright, Susie Lee, and Steven Horsford.

The legislators emphasized that the impacts of the current border situation are felt by all their constituents, regardless of their congressional district. However, it is noteworthy that the House recently passed a Republican-led measure denouncing the Biden administration's open-border policies, with thirteen Democrats joining 210 Republicans in supporting it, including four signatories of the letter to President Biden.

The border and immigration issues are expected to play a significant role in House campaigns leading up to the general elections this fall. Democrats narrowly lost control of the House in the 2022 midterms, but they have the opportunity to regain power if they win a small number of seats.

In response to the letter, Jack Pandol, the communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, criticized Democrats, calling their promises to secure the border a "pathetic charade." Pandol suggested that Democrats are more concerned about the political implications of their open-border policies than resolving the crisis.

President Biden has been considering executive action to address the surge in illegal border crossings, which reached record levels last year. The administration has explored options such as restricting asylum through the invocation of 212(f) authority, which allows presidents to suspend the entry of foreigners if it is deemed detrimental to U.S. interests. However, no new border measures have been announced at this time.

Notably, the Biden administration recently announced a new regulation that enables a significant number of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to enroll in the Affordable Care Act's health insurance.

As the border and immigration continue to be contentious issues, President Biden faces the challenge of maintaining support from centrists and progressive-minded Democrats alike. His previous criticisms of former President Trump's immigration rhetoric and chaos at the border have been raised during fundraisers in Texas.

The House Democrats' recent letter is another indication of the urgent need to address border security, and it underscores the importance of finding a comprehensive solution that can garner bipartisan support. The president's response and potential executive actions in the coming weeks will undoubtedly shape the political landscape leading up to the general elections.