The top Senate Republican negotiator for the open borders deal appears to be feeling the heat.
In an email sent to outside groups Sunday night and obtained by Breitbart News, Sen. James Lankford’s (R-Okla.) staff said they would like to request air support to support the Senate border bill. Begging.
“[I]If you or your group agree that this policy is useful on the waterfront today and provides a useful tool for the next administration, please feel free to share with our team a statement that we can support. Please,” the Sunday night email said. to the recipient.
In developing the bill as a “national security supplement,” Lankford’s team said the bill’s border provisions “will represent the most significant and impactful changes to border security policy in the past 30 years.” accurately stated.
Migrants heading north toward the U.S. border walk along a highway through Arriaga, Chiapas state in southern Mexico, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Edgar H. Clemente)
But the bill has received surprising pushback from other Republicans who believe these effects would have a huge negative impact on efforts to secure the border.
Among the provisions promoted by Lankford city officials is that “if the number of illegal border crossers does not decrease, new emergency authorities will be created to close the border and deport everyone who crosses the border.” This new authority will dramatically and quickly reduce illegal crossings. ”
The bill’s language confirms that new emergency authorities would not be activated until 8,500 immigrants cross the border in a single day, or an average of 5,000 people cross the border over a seven-day period, a point that border security advocates say This is an even higher trigger than previously feared.
Lankford previously assured Americans that the bill would not allow for more than 5,000 immigrants per day, calling the claims “internet rumors” and “totally absurd.” .
He went to X Hospital on Sunday night to stop the bleeding, calling emergency officials “the most misunderstood or just the most misrepresented part.” [sic] of the bill. ”
Border emergency authorities are the most misunderstood or simply misrepresented part of this bill. Some say 5,000 people will enter the country per day. That’s unreasonable and untrue.
— Senator James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) February 5, 2024
“Emergency authorities are not designed to let 5,000 people into the country; they are designed to close the border and divert 5,000 people,” he added. , this executive has only three years to force the border closure and give the next president time to hire more staff and police. Emergency powers expire in three years, but by then we should have complete control of the border.”
In an email to outside groups, Mr. Lankford’s staff called the agreement a “valuable tool available to the incoming administration,” and that Donald Trump, the clear front-runner for the Republican nomination, – Framing it as a clear attempt to reassure Trump’s supporters.
But President Trump has expressed adamant opposition to moving forward with the deal, and Lankford’s attempts to legitimize it have weakened.
Last week, Jared Kushner, President Trump’s top adviser and son-in-law, argued that current law gives the executive branch the authority to enforce border security and said the Biden administration has the necessary tools. . “We have a lot of rules on our books that we can enforce to get us back on track. This alone is a 90% reduction,” Kushner said.
The staff email also invites recipients to attend an “invite-only” webinar with Lankford on Monday morning at 9 a.m. EST to “learn more about the text” of the bill.
Bradley Jay is Breitbart News’ Capitol Hill correspondent. Follow him on X/Twitter. @BradleyAJay.
