White House: ‘Obviously not OK’ to be in US illegally

The White House was pressed on its approach to people who are in the country illegally as President Joe Biden‘s border policies receive renewed scrutiny.

Biden’s border positions are coming under a political microscope amid congressional negotiations regarding border security and immigration reform as part of a likely Ukraine–Israel funding deal and high numbers of migrants crossing the southern border.

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“If you’re in this country illegally, that’s obviously not OK,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday.

Kirby repeated that Biden and the White House are “willing to have good faith negotiations” concerning the border, though press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre contended Biden and his aides are “seriously” trying to improve the situation, while Republicans are not.

“Unfortunately, some Republicans are now holding urgently needed Ukraine funding hostage to a set of completely unrelated … border demands instead of negotiating in good faith,” she said.

Biden earlier implored Congress to pass his proposed supplemental before the holiday period, underscoring that not doing so would be a “win” for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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“I put forward a comprehensive plan the first day I came into office,” the president said of the border and immigration reforms. “I’ve made it clear that we need Congress to make changes to fix what is a broken immigration system because we know — we all know it’s broken.”

“And I’m willing to do significantly more,” he added. “But in terms of changes to policy and to provide resources that we need at the border, I’m willing to … change policy as well.”