Senate Republicans on Wednesday voted against advancing a bipartisan border security deal that is part of a massive emergency foreign aid package to fund the war in Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific security.
The motion to proceed with the package failed 49-50, with the majority of the Senate Republican conference voting against it. Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), James Lankford (Oklahoma), and Mitt Romney (Utah) are sponsoring the bill. Voted yes.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) votes against $10 billion in military aid to Israel in light of the deaths of more than 27,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Ta. Democratic Sens. Ed Markey (Mass.), Bob Menendez (N.J.), Alex Padilla (California) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also voted against the bill.
Schumer said early Wednesday that he would move to Plan B after the failed vote and bring a package to the floor that includes aid for Ukraine, Israel and other foreign policy priorities, but a border deal remains. Not included. He voted “no” on a technicality that would allow for a motion to reconsider.
The development marked a dramatic shift among Senate Republicans who have argued for months that funding for Ukraine must be combined with reforms to secure the border.
In response to the demands, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urged James to negotiate with the White House and Senate Democrats on higher standards for immigrants applying for asylum and benefits for the Secretary of Homeland Security. He appointed Senator Lankford (R-Oklahoma). Alejandro Mayorkas, emergency powers to deport immigrants.
It would also provide $6.8 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, $7.6 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and $4 billion for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In total, it would invest $20.2 billion to improve border security.
Mr. McConnell and Mr. Lankford praised the deal as a major victory for Republicans, but acknowledged that four months of negotiations did not yield all the reforms they had hoped for.
McConnell on Tuesday cited multiple times that the deal had approval from the influential National Border Patrol Council, saying it showed it was a “high-quality product.”
The border security agreement includes an additional $118 billion national security package that includes $60 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, $14 billion in security assistance to Israel, and $10 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Ukraine. It was part of.
But after negotiators unveiled the details of the deal just after 6 p.m. Sunday, the Republican backlash was swift and ferocious.
“Only a fool or a radical leftist Democrat would vote for this horrible bill,” former President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), J.D. Senate conservatives led by Sen. Vance (R-Ohio) took the lead. There is opposition within the Senate Republican Conference. They warned that it would encourage more migrants to cross the border, further exacerbating the border crisis.
“Why is this a terrible bill? Because it doesn’t solve the problem,” Cruz declared at a press conference, calling out Senate Republican leaders who have been negotiating a deal with the White House and Senate Democrats. denounced. “This bill is not intended to secure the border. Instead, this bill codifies Joe Biden’s open borders.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York criticized Senate Republicans for blocking border security reforms he has been demanding for months.
“It appears that Republicans aren’t actually serious about fixing the border, because you can’t vote against border policies like the ones we’re seeing today and still claim to be serious about fixing the border. “Because I can’t,” he said.
He cited support for the National Border Patrol Council, but argued its influence is outweighed by President Trump’s opposition to the deal.
“Why are Republicans walking away from border security when they know it’s the right thing to do? Two words — Donald Trump. Donald Trump wants the Senate to finally reach a true partisan border deal. I don’t like it.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) rose to the Senate floor to counter Schumer’s attack, saying Republican opposition to the border deal meant President Biden had already failed to implement planned immigration legislation. defended it as a reaction to
“The truth is, we have no confidence, no confidence at all, that the Biden administration will enforce the law on the border issue,” he said.
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