The massive spending bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden last month continues a long tradition of dedicating large sums of money to border security in many Middle Eastern countries, but it does so in ways that best keep the United States safe. It is a battle over methods. The border is still there.
The $1.2 trillion package includes funding for defense and homeland security by other government agencies and as reimbursement for “strengthening border security” in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Oman. It also includes an appropriation of $380 million available through September 2025. Of this, $150 million will be dedicated specifically to Jordan.
it is an inclusion The budget, which has been included in many omnibus budgets in recent years, has upset many Republicans, who argue that it is wasteful and that some Democrats want to build a border wall or similar plans on the U.S. southern border. We believe that this is a time when it is prudent to spend funds on countermeasures.
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“But look at them running this thing in the middle of the night with billions of dollars in supplies. ,” said Republican-Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise. , it was said that in 2022.
Migrants attempt to cross the border between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on March 3, 2024. (Lokman Vral Elibor/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The spending measure received bipartisan votes in both houses of Congress to avoid a government shutdown, but drew significant opposition from conservatives. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has filed a motion to vacate Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) as Speaker of the House, accusing him of betraying the “trust” of the House Republican Conference. did. law.
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This comes not only amidst a historic migrant crisis at the southern border, where the number of migrant encounters hit a record high in February, but also as a way to secure the border and limit the number of migrants entering the border. This is happening even when Congress cannot agree on the issue.
The Biden administration is seeking passage of a bipartisan border funding bill negotiated earlier this year. The bill includes additional border funding, including funding for staffing, technology, NGOs and immigrant-hosting communities, and a temporary mechanism to halt entry if encounters with migrants are violated. 5,000 cases per day. Conservatives say it normalizes already excessive levels of energy. Illegal immigration.
The administration and Democrats say they are dealing with a historic hemispheric crisis, but the immigration system is broken and needs funding and reform.
After brief partial government shutdown, Senate passes massive $1.2 trillion spending package
But Republicans say the crisis was caused by the Biden administration’s reversal of successful Trump-era policies, including border wall construction, a Remain in Mexico policy and widespread domestic crackdowns.
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In the House of Representatives, Republicans passed their own border security and asylum bill, HR 2, which would provide additional funding to restart border wall construction and reforms that would significantly restrict entry into the interior of the United States. Become.
FOX News’ Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
