Biden says he will visit the US-Mexico border for the first time since taking office

By Rebecca Shabad -

The president, Joe Biden, announced this Wednesday that he plans to visit the border between the United States and Mexico

after almost two years of criticism from Republican politicians of his Administration for the immigration crisis.

Biden revealed the possible trip by speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One in Kentucky.

When asked if he will go to the border, he replied:

The president is scheduled to attend the North American Leaders Summit in Mexico City on Monday and Tuesday.

President Joe Biden steps off Air Force One in Hebron, Kentucky, on Wednesday. Patrick Semansky / AP

Members of the Republican Party have repeatedly ridiculed Biden for not visiting the southern border, arguing that the mass arrival of migrants is not a priority for his administration.

At the end of December, the Supreme Court decided that it will indefinitely maintain Title 42, a Trump Administration measure to expel migrants seeking asylum at the border.

Biden tried unsuccessfully to end this express deportation policy.

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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre touched on Title 42 Tuesday, saying the Administration is moving forward with preparations for when the policy is finally lifted, for officials to "manage the border in a way safe, orderly and humane”.

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"However, to truly fix our broken immigration system,

added.

“We saw the president on his first day in office put out a comprehensive immigration policy, and he did it to show how important this was, how much of a priority it was to him.”

This border trip would come as House Republicans

focusing in particular on the border.