Jean-Pierre: Biden 'Has Done More to Secure the Border' Than Anybody Else, Then Walks Back 'Pathway to Citizenship' (August 31, 2023)

Record numbers of migrants were overwhelming New York City, and even Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said immigration was the administration’s weak spot. A reporter Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Ed put it to her on Aug. 31, 2023.

“Part of why I ask this is because, in a recent New York Times interview, the New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says, quote, ‘Immigration is arguably this administration’s weakest issue. This is one area where our policy is dictated by politics, arguably more so than any other.’ Your response?” the reporter asked [1].

“Well — (laughs) — I will — I would agree with her, certainly, on the last part, where it is dictated by politics,” Jean-Pierre answered, according to the official White House transcript. “Republicans have made this an incredibly political issue.” [1]

Then she made the claim. “I will say this: The President has done more to secure the border and to deal with this issue of immigration than anybody else. He really has,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the Aug. 31, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript and Fox News [1][2].

”He Did Not Meet With Her”

The reporter started with a snub involving New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had come to the White House about the migrants in her state [1].

“It’s something that happened here at the White House yesterday. Because the President, justifiably, understandably, was focused on natural disasters,” the reporter said. “He talked to the four governors of the states affected by the storm.” After Jean-Pierre answered “Absolutely. Yep,” the reporter went on: “He met with the Cabinet on that issue. Also had time for a meeting with Bernie Sanders. But when the governor of New York came by to discuss a very urgent matter in the state of New York and across the country in a lot of big cities, he did not meet with her. Why not?” the reporter asked [1].

“Look, the President has a lot on his plate. As you said, this is an important — important issue as well. But when you have the Chief of Staff, when you have the Secretary of Homeland Security there meeting with the governor, I think that shows how important the President thought this meeting was to make sure he had his top people speaking with her as well,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“Well, look, as you just stated, there’s a lot going on, and his Chief of Staff met — met — was part of that meeting. I believe Secretary Mayorkas was part of that meeting,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”You Said That This Administration Has Expanded the Pathway to Citizenship?”

Jean-Pierre listed what she called Biden’s border record. “June saw the single largest month-to-month drop in lawful — unlawful border crossing because of the policies this President put in place. We’ve got a record number of federal agents and officers — more than 24,000 — working to secure the border,” she said. “And let’s not forget, we expanded — we’ve expanded the pathway to citizenship under this President.” [1]

A reporter caught it. “You said that this administration has expanded the pathway to citizenship?” [1]

“The pathway of legal — legal pathway — pardon me — the legal pathway for migrants to enter this —” Jean-Pierre said. Asked if she meant the parole program, she said: “Right. From the parolee program.” [1]

“Which don’t have any — which don’t lead to any sort of permanent legal —” the reporter said. “It’s a — it’s a two-year program with —” “I — I agree. You’re right,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”We’re Just Not There Yet”

The reporter asked what would happen when the paroles ran out. “When the parole ends, does this President intend to renew the two- — two-year paroles for those? Or are they — or is he going to send them back?” [1]

“So, that’s a very good question. That’s why we keep asking for help from Congress to help us fix this bro- — broken system,” Jean-Pierre said. “We’re — we — we’re just not there yet.” [1]

A Storm Week

The briefing came as Hurricane Idalia hit Florida. “As you saw, the President went to FEMA to thank the workers there — and their hard work over not just this past couple of days, but these past several weeks,” Jean-Pierre said at the top [1].

Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall said Biden had been calling Florida’s governor. “He’s also been in regular contact with Governor DeSantis. He spoke to the governor twice today,” she said [1].

By the Numbers

24,000+: federal border agents and officers, per Jean-Pierre [1].
21: world leaders she said Biden gathered on immigration [1].
2 years: the length of the parole she described [1].
302,034: southern border encounters in December 2023, a monthly record [2].

What Happened Next

The surge set new records. “December broke records for migrant encounters at the southern border,” Fox News reported in January 2024. “There were over 2.4 million migrant encounters in FY 23, after a record-setting FY 22.” [2]

For Jean-Pierre calling a Texas challenge to the parole program a “political stunt,” see HYGO News’ page on March 16, 2023. That page also covers how the parole program ended in 2025.