Robert F Kennedy Jr has heaped further pressure on 46th President Joe Biden by promising to make the US-Mexico border “impenetrable”.
The 69-year-old, whose father was assassinated during his White House bid in 1968, appeared to take advantage of disapproval with Biden’s administration on illegal immigration.
The Democratic 2024 contender said: “As President, I will make the border impenetrable to illegal migrants, but we can’t afford to wait a year and a half for that to happen.
“That is why I am calling on Democratic and Republican leaders to unify on this issue.”
WATCH NOW: RFK Jr's grassroots support analysed
A recent opinion poll by Rasmussen Reports suggested Kennedy Jr is Biden’s main challenger with 25 per cent.
The 46th President has opened up a significant lead on 57 per cent and Marianne Williamson languishes in third on just three per cent.
However, Kennedy Jr’s comments appear to chime better with Republican voters than with Democrats needed for the anti-vaccine campaigner to win the nomination.
The topic of immigration could play a significant part in deciding who wins the White House in 2024.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
US President Joe BidenPABiden is facing renewed pressure from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The Lone Star State Republican yesterday said: “Texas deployed additional buses to Eagle Pass and El Paso to help provide relief from Biden's border crisis.
“Operation Lone Star continues to hold the line to stem the historic influx of illegal immigration.”
“President Biden’s continued refusal to secure our border invites thousands of illegal crossings into Texas and our nation each day,” added Abbott.
“Texas communities like Eagle Pass and El Paso should not have to shoulder the unprecedented surge of illegal immigration caused by President Biden’s reckless open border policies.”
An image of the Texas National Guard on the US-Mexico borderREUTERSAustin revealed it has bused 11,900 migrants to Washington DC since April 2022.
A further 14,900 migrants were sent to New York City and 8,700 travelled to Chicago since August 2022.
Despite receiving criticism over immigration, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously claimed Biden has "done more" to secure the southern border and deal with the immigration "than anybody else."
She added: "The President has done what he can from here, from the federal government, from the White House to put forth and manage our border in a safe and humane way to respect the dignity of every human, as he says all the time, and making sure that our communities are safe."
The number of undocumented immigrant crossings at the southwest border for fiscal year 2022 topped 2.76 million.