DALLAS/WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Barack Obama rejected demands from Texas Governor Rick Perry and others that he visit the border where a child migrant crisis is unfolding and said his critics should get behind his request for $3.7 billion if they want to solve the problem.
“Are folks more interested in politics or are they more interested in solving the problem,” Obama said he told Perry. “If they are interested in solving the problem then this can be solved. If the preference is for politics then it won’t be solved.”
Obama visited Texas for the first time since the influx of child migrants from Central America overwhelmed border resources. He had talks with Perry aboard his Marine One helicopter and in a group meeting with local officials that Obama called constructive.
In a brief news conference after the meeting, Obama dismissed criticism from Perry, a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate, that he should personally visit the border region for a first-hand look.
“This isn’t theater. This is a problem. I’m not interested in photo ops. I’m interested in solving a problem,” he said.
The president, on a three-day trip out of Washington, is spending much time raising money for Democratic congressional candidates, leading to criticism that he should spend some time visiting the border. Obama said he is getting plenty of information from top advisers who are visiting the area.
“There’s nothing that is taking place down there that I am not intimately aware of and briefed on,” he said.
Obama is battling political pressure from supporters and opponents alike to halt a growing humanitarian crisis along the Texas border with Mexico.
His request for emergency funds on Tuesday was the most aggressive step yet by his administration to take care of the children who have come from Central America illegally while accelerating the process to have them deported.
The money, however, must be approved by the Democrat-controlled Senate and Republican-led House of Representatives. Republi-cans, who have pressed the White House to do more to tackle the crisis, gave the proposal a wary reception.
“The House is not going to just rubber-stamp what the administration wants to do,” said Representative Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, who is a member of Speaker John Boehner’s border crisis task force.
Republican Representative Mick Mulvaney criticized the funding request and suggested foreign aid should be docked to pay for it.
“I think it’s a charade. I think the president has set it up to make it look as though the only reason he’s not enforcing the border is because he doesn’t have the money. And that’s not accurate,” Mulvaney said.
Obama said he emphasized to Perry that he was largely in agreement with the Republican’s suggestion that more border patrol agents be moved to the crisis zone.
