Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the third-ranking member of the Senate’s Republican leadership, has said he opposes the broader border security agreement negotiated by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) over the past three months. and went on strike. It is a blow to Senate Republican unity.
“The proposed bill does not meet most Americans’ standards for securing our current border. It will not force the Biden administration to stop abusing current law,” Barrasso said in a statement. .
“Joe Biden will never enact new laws and refuses to use the tools he already has to end this crisis. I cannot vote for this bill. Americans will look to the next election to end the border crisis.”
The announcement is a setback for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senate Republican Leader John Thune (S.D.), who have played leading roles in pushing the bill.
Mr. McConnell and Mr. Thune want to give Senate Republicans time to consider the bill, and while they are unlikely to support the bill moving forward this week, they are expected to support the bill itself.
Barrasso becomes the second member of the elected Senate Republican leadership to express opposition to the deal. Supporters say the deal would raise asylum standards for people entering the country and halve the number of illegal immigrants released on parole in the interior.
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines of Montana announced his opposition to the bill in a post on social media platform X on Monday.
“I cannot support a bill that does not secure our borders, provides tax-funded lawyers to illegal immigrants, and provides billions of dollars to radical open border groups. I say no,” Daines said. wrote.
Lankford, the top Republican negotiator, said Monday night after a Senate Republican conference on the issue that while the bill includes concessions to Democrats, it represents a major step toward resolving the border crisis. did.
“We have to be able to actually have a moment where we can actually solve the problem,” he said, noting that he was unable to change refugee law when Republicans controlled the White House and both branches of Congress. It pointed out.
“My focus is on what we can do to actually solve the border problem, because we’re hearing from members of Congress, ‘We need to actually solve these problems.’ Because I hear it a lot.”
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