The long-awaited bipartisan border deal ran into swift opposition from hardline conservatives and allies of former President Trump within hours of negotiators releasing the 370-page draft deal.
They are He denounced it as an “amnesty bill.” He said it “erased borders” and attacked the Ukrainian funds it contained, calling it “a complete pushover and gross” and “totally unacceptable.”
“Let me be clear: the Senate border bill will not get a vote in the House,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana). I wrote to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “Those pushing for this deal think: “We are admitting 5,000 illegal immigrants every day and automatically giving work permits to asylum seekers, but this is attracting even more illegal immigrants.” ” is not said.
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, RN.Y., also attacked the bill in a statement.
“This Joe Biden/Chuck Schumer Open Borders Act is no start at all and will only further encourage thousands of illegal aliens to cross our border every day,” Stefanik wrote. Ta. “House Republicans have already passed HR2, the Secure Borders Act, which actually secures our borders and returns us to effective Trump policies with the most secure borders in our nation’s history,” she added. Ta.
The $118 billion bill includes $20 billion for the border component, as well as funding for Israel, Ukraine and other foreign policy priorities.
The border agreement includes specific provisions to raise standards for asylum screening and speed up processing of claims. The agreement also eliminates a practice known as “catch-and-release” and gives the administration new powers to close the border to most migrants if border crossings meet set standards. It is.
Although the text of the border agreement had not been released by Sunday, President Trump does not want Congress to pass a major border security bill that would be seen as a victory for President Biden in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. He clearly stated.
His allies quickly pounced on the bill on Sunday.
“This bill reads like it was drafted in Kiev. It’s a big problem for America that a border bill is aimed at funding foreign wars, not our own interests or our people.” said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) in a statement, adding: If you vote for this, you will be betraying the American people. ”
Conservative Senate Republicans also condemned the proposal.
“This is an open borders bill if I’ve ever seen one. Democrats are already celebrating,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) said on X (formerly Twitter).
“It is against the law for individuals to enter our country illegally, and it is incredible that we still have to say this. Even though we are a country of law and order, the Biden administration has Allowing illegal immigrants to flood the border, while cartels and unvetted sponsors take advantage of them, at least 85,000 migrant children under Biden’s Health Department watch. They are missing. That is unacceptable, and it is unacceptable to allow even one immigrant to enter our country illegally,” Sen. Martha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said in a statement.
“I will never vote to legalize illegal immigration, and I do not support this deal. “We should call for a vote on the Secure Borders Act (HR2), which has stalled without even a public hearing,” she added. .
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) repeatedly urged senators to take more time to read the bill before voting.
“No self-respecting senator should agree to a vote on this 370-page bill this week. Forty-one senators can block the bill from proceeding. Senators should give this bill at least a few weeks (and of course If you agree that it should be kept (for more than a few days), say so!” he wrote.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a fellow conservative hardliner and Trump supporter, said, “I’m a firm no” to the bill.
“I can’t believe this is a ‘negotiated’ border security bill. This bill destroys American sovereignty. It weakens immigration laws for decades and actually secures our borders and protects our country. This bill was created to strengthen the infiltration of illegal immigrants into the United States.” I am a firm NO. ”
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who led negotiations on the bill with Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), called for the border agreement to be “once and for all.” That’s fine,” he praised. He said, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to close open borders, end border chaos, and give future administrations the effective tools they need to protect our country.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
