Graham pours water on Senate voting on border deal before next recess

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.S.C.) on Sunday expressed doubts that the Senate would vote on the hotly contested border deal before the Senate goes into a two-week recess later this month, saying the bill does not include He claimed that the content was “too important.” ”

“Well, it’s a process that is the oldest game in town, introducing significant legislation right before a holiday or just before a holiday,” Graham said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “Process-wise, we’re not going to address this next week because it’s too important.”

Senate negotiators have been back and forth for weeks trying to reach an agreement on border security measures. But as the Senate prepares to go into recess from February 12 to 23, lawmakers continue to race against time.

“I have been involved in negotiations and as far as I know what they have achieved, we have not yet seen. It is real change in asylums, real change in parole. Change, real change in expedited deportation,” Graham said.

The South Carolina Republican argued that some Democrats are “willing to change” refugee law, in contrast to the long-felt opposition on the left to border security reform.

“We’re going to wait and see what the final bill looks like,” Graham said. “But as we proceed, there’s no chance of a logjam. We’re not going to bring up something as important as this. Pass it right before a two-week holiday…The truth is, how do people keep an open mind?” Is that so?”

“Therefore, submitting a bill that will be rejected will not solve the problem,” he argued. “Do you know how to solve the problem? What did you do? [Sen. James] Lankford [R-Okla.] Are doing. Please carefully discuss and negotiate with the other party. ”

Several Congressional Republicans have voted to pass a sweeping House resolution (HR 2) that would significantly limit asylum procedures, curb regional migration, and establish a new oversight system to crack down on existing illegal aliens. is claimed.

The bill passed in the Republican-controlled House last year without Democratic support.

Graham threw cold water on Republicans trying to pass HR 2, saying, “To the people pushing HR. 2. That’s not going to happen. So if it doesn’t happen, we’re going to do something else.” It will be.”