Republican Speaker Mike Johnson PHONES Biden and tells him to use executive action to secure the southern border as migrant crisis reaches breaking point

Speaker Mike Johnson and President Biden spoke by phone about the harrowing migrant crisis on Wednesday and the speaker urged Biden to take executive action to close the border. 

'Speaker Johnson spoke with President Biden today. The speaker strongly encouraged the president to use his executive authority to secure the southern border,' Johnson spokesman Raj Shah wrote on X. 

Finding a border fix is imperative as over 200,000 migrants crossed into the U.S. in December - the most recorded in a month in history. 

Republicans in the Senate are in ongoing negotiations with the White House over coming to an agreement on a border security package tied to Ukraine and Israel aid.

It was not clear whether Johnson or Biden initiated the call Wednesday, but it came the same day that Republicans held their first hearing on impeaching Biden's Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas. 

Johnson also called on the president to reinstated Trump-era policies like building the wall, reinstating the Remain in Mexico program and expanding expedited removal for those who cannot demonstrate asylum eligibility. 

According to the speaker's office, Johnson reiterated the contents of a December 21 letter he sent to the president during the call.

In the letter, the speaker directed the president to end 'catch-and-release,' turning away any migrants encountered between ports of entry and use parole only on a 'case-by-case basis.' 

According to the speaker's office, Johnson reiterated the contents of a December 21 letter

Johnson even urged Biden to suspend all immigration - using his authority under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act

Johnson even urged Biden to suspend all immigration - using his authority under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

The provision allows the president to suspend the entry of any foreign citizens for an unspecified amount of time if allowing them in is deemed 'detrimental' to US interests. 

'This catastrophe requires your administration's full attention and commitment, particularly since Senate Majority Leader Schumer adjourned the Senate yesterday for the year,' Johnson said in the December letter, pointing to the House's hardline immigration bill that passed earlier this year, H.R.2. 

The letter noted that Customs and Border Patrol had encountered nearly 2.5 million migrants in fiscal year 2023, and was on track to break that record in 2024. 

Border crossings even hit 12,000 a day toward the end of the year. Border agents say their resources are 'at capacity' at around 5,000 crossings per day. 

'The wide-open border has caused unspeakable human tragedy for migrants and certainly for our own citizens,' Johnson wrote, noting human trafficking, fentanyl and people from the terrorist watchlist crossing the borders. 

Johnson led a delegation of over 60 GOP lawmakers to Eagle Pass, Texas, last week to see the crisis firsthand and speak with law enforcement.