Biden Announces Border Crackdown, Declares He Will Never ‘Demonize’ Migrants As ‘Poisoning the Blood of a Country’

President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that he would sign an executive order that would serve to close the United States-Mexico border to those who tried to enter illegally. During his remarks he made the same day, he also took a few shots at congressional Republicans and former President Donald Trump.

Biden started off his remarks by saying he was going to do what Republicans “refused” to do, saying that he had preferred to sign a bipartisan bill into law that could fully accomplish a secure border. While he outlined what his order will do — including not granting asylum to illegal migrants while taking measures to make the asylum process more efficient for legal migrants — he stated that immigration was a cornerstone of America, and that he’d never “demonize” those who wanted to come to America.

“These investments were one of the primary reasons that the Border Patrol union endorsed the bipartisan deal in the first place. These investments are essential remain essential as far as I’m concerned. If you’re not willing to spend the money to hire more Border Patrol agents, more asylum officers, more judges, more high tech machinery, you’re just not serious about protecting our border. It’s as simple as that,” Biden said, taking a swipe at Republicans who killed the bipartisan border bill that was endorsed by the Border Patrol union.

“I believe that immigration has always been a lifeblood of America. We’re constantly renewed by an infusion of people and new talent. The Statue of Liberty is not some relic of American history,” Biden continued, before pivoting to attack Trump:

It stands for who we are as United States. So I will never demonize immigrants. I’ll never refer to immigrants as poisoning the blood of a country. And further, I’ll never separate children from their families at the border. I will not ban people from this country because of their religious beliefs. I will not use the U.S. military to go into neighborhoods all across the country, to pull millions of people out of their homes and away from their families, to put detention camps while awaiting deportation, as my predecessor says he will do if he occupies his office again.

Watch the video above via Fox News.