President Joe Biden concluded a roughly 24-hour Los Angeles visit Wednesday by visiting a library in Culver City to announce his latest effort to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt, but he also made an unscheduled stop at a Baldwin Hills cafe to pick up a breakfast burrito.
Biden announced the approval of $1.2 billion in debt cancellation for 153,000 student loan borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, repayment plan. According to the White House, the move means the administration has now authorized nearly $138 billion in student debt cancellation, affecting almost 3.9 million borrowers.
The latest action for SAVE plan members impacts borrowers who have been making payments for at least 10 years and borrowed $12,000 or less.
According to the White House, the forgiveness of the SAVE loans occurred six months ahead of schedule.
“I’m happy to have been able to forgive these loans because when we relieve Americans of their student debt, they’re free to chase their dreams,” Biden said during an appearance at Julian Dixon Library.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was among those speaking at the event, which was also attended by Culver City Mayor Yasmine Imani-McMorrin.
Bass joined Biden late Wednesday morning to ride in the presidential motorcade from Century City to Culver City. Along the way, they made an unscheduled stop just before noon at CJ’s Cafe, a small Mexican food restaurant in a Baldwin Hills strip mall.
The president — who ordered a breakfast burrito for lunch — and Bass shook hands and chatted with customers. They also took photos with some people at the eatery before the pair got back into the motorcade and made their way to the Culver City event.
Following his speech in Culver City, Biden got back into his motorcade bound for Los Angeles International Airport for a flight to San Francisco, where he has additional fundraisers planned.
Earlier Wednesday morning, Biden issued an executive order regarding security at nation’s ports and additional actions to strengthen maritime cybersecurity, fortify supply chains and strengthen the United States industrial base.
The executive order includes an intent to bring domestic onshore manufacturing capacity back to America to provide safe, secure cranes to U.S. ports — the result of a more than $20 billion investment in U.S. port infrastructure under Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, according to the White House.
Biden arrived in Los Angeles Tuesday. Air Force One touched down at Los Angeles International Airport at about 3:30 p.m. with Biden greeted by Bass and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles.
City News Service contributed to this article.