Donald Trump called on Republican lawmakers late Wednesday night to avoid a flawed deal with pro-immigration Democrats in private negotiations over border reform and immigration funding.
At about 11:15 p.m., he posted his support Regarding House Speaker Mike Johnson's pro-American stance during negotiations:
I have everything I need to stop the invasion of millions of people, many from unknown regions, into this once great and soon to be great country. I don't think we should conclude a border agreement at all unless there is. I also have no doubt that our wonderful Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, will just get the perfect deal on the border. Remember, without strong borders and honest elections, we don't have a country.
So far, President Joe Biden's border officials have cautiously allowed about 5 million economic migrants to cross the southern border into the United States.
Added together, the massive influx equates to one immigrant for every two American births over the past three years. This influx is dramatically changing public attitudes toward mass immigration into Americans' workplaces and communities, with majorities in two polls now describing it as an “invasion.”
Biden's lawmakers are now trying to limit political damage ahead of the November election.
Related: Operation Lone Star!Texas DPS takes control of Eagle Pass border crossing hotspot
Rolando Salinas Jr. (via Storyful)
As a result, negotiations between White House officials and Republican and Democratic senators reportedly resulted in a “compromise” deal that gave both sides what they wanted.
For example, Democratic lawmakers don't want penniless immigrants housed in city-funded shelters. So Republican negotiators reportedly agreed to quickly get immigrants work permits so they could be hired by companies instead of higher-paying Americans.
This expedited work permit provision is a major change from the current (but ignored) law, which requires migrants to be detained and not allowed to work until their asylum claims are decided.
Biden's lawmakers also want to spend billions to help transport and hide many migrants in nonprofit shelters during the 2024 election.
But negotiators are reportedly deeply divided over the path to “parole.” In 2022, Biden's lawmakers shut down the border corridor to lure millions of poor immigrants to Wall Street and Democratic-run cities.
A large group of Republican senators backed by business want to work out a compromise if Mr. Biden curbs the parole pathway. The group includes Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
.@POTUSif you want an agreement on defense replenishment, please do the right thing and help end this crisis on our borders once and for all. pic.twitter.com/GmZEAdckPL
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 17, 2024
Another bloc of Republican senators wants to protect American communities and pocketbooks from Biden's low-wage labor immigration. This bloc includes Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and his Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).
🚨Take a look: @JDVance1 BLASTS border package comes to the forefront of Ukraine funding
“We’re not going to do anything about parole, we’re not going to do anything about fixing the asylum process…This is a border fig leaf to send another $61 billion to Ukraine. This is a devastating leadership abdication for the Republican Party.” is.” pic.twitter.com/Kt0ufasTqr
— Senator Vance Press Office (@SenVancePress) January 18, 2024
President Trump's intervention could make it more difficult for Republican advocates of a deal to win Lankford's goal of gaining support from more than half of the 49 members of Congress. The caucus-half rule is expected to be opposed by President Trump, and 49 Republican senators have lost their seats in an election year amid a growing public view that immigration is a burden imposed on elites rather than a global benefit. Requires support from at least 25 people.
Trump's support for Johnson could also make it harder for Biden to win concessions from his coalition of pro-immigration business groups and progressives. The business group includes Mark Zuckerberg's West Coast investor advocacy group FWD.US.
On Wednesday, Mr. Biden invited Mr. Johnson, Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to discuss border legislation and the no-negotiation war with Ukraine and Russia. discussed the complex funding bill. After the White House event, the mild-mannered Prime Minister Johnson said he still insisted on “substantive policy change…the elements of it have to be meaningful.”
Democrats are already bracing for Biden's failure, loudly accusing Republicans of refusing to provide border security.
RASKIN: They're actively sabotaging a bipartisan border deal at Trump's behest. Just as President Trump openly wants the economy to tank, they want chaos at the border and we're trying to prevent that from happening. pic.twitter.com/9oKZego8Mc
— Asyn (@Acyn) January 17, 2024
