Biden Dismisses Idea Of Paying $450,000 To Immigrant Families Separated At Border

President Joe Biden on Wednesday dismissed a report from The Wall Street Journal that suggested his administration is considering paying immigrant families who were separated at the southern border around $450,000 a person, calling the story "garbage" and saying "that's not gonna happen." A White House spokeswoman later clarified that the president is “perfectly comfortable” with paying immigrant families, emphasizing that he was reacting to the $450,000 figure listed in the report. She also highlighted how the Department of Justice made it "clear to the plaintiffs that the reported figures are higher than anywhere that a settlement can land.” Meanwhile, House Republicans introduced a bill Thursday that would block the Biden Administration from following through on the aforementioned payouts. As of now, an estimated 940 claims have been filed by  immigrant families who were separated at the border during the Trump administration.

Biden's comments were prominently covered across the spectrum. Some reports cited the statement from ACLU executive director Anthony D. Romero, who suggested Biden "may not have been fully briefed about the actions of his very own Justice Department." Left-rated outlets were more likely to highlight reports that detailed the "inconsolable crying" and "confusion" of children when they were separated from their parents. Right-rated outlets were more likely to emphasize how the news "drew outrage" from many Republicans such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who called the payouts a "slap in the face" to Americans.