Pro-immigration Republican senators are trying to revive the border plan amid growing divisions in the Republican Party, establishment condemnation and public backlash.
Thursday morning's establishment backlash comes as Republican leader Sen. Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that Republican voters and swing voters are increasingly wary of President Joe Biden's ruthless pro-immigration economic policies. It happened after I admitted it.
Related Video — Biden Co-Chairman Coons: Things have gotten so bad over the last year or two that Democrats have changed the border:
“Mr. Hill is angry and confused because President Trump appears to have blown away a delicate compromise on immigration and, with it, aid to Ukraine and Israel,” the person said. Tweet From CNN reporter Manu Raju on Capitol Hill.
“Reading about our leadership's confusion over the border bill puts a lot of question marks in my head about where we go from here,” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said later on CNN. However, he insisted that everything was fine. Getting back on track:
The ambiguity that had existed for the past few hours became clear to all of us. [McConnell] I fully support the border bill, I fully support support for Ukraine, and I'm not going to let any campaign political considerations get in the way of my support…Leader McConnell has dropped any questions about his support. He said he fully supports the border bill he has been hinting at in recent weeks.
Democrats are bitter blamed Donald Trump broke down. “We don't live in a world today where one Republican has enough power to block a bipartisan bill,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the lead Democratic negotiator. “I'm just going to keep my head down – I'm working together [Republican] These are partners who want to do business with us,” he added.
Thursday's breakdown followed Wednesday evening's report. “Mr. McConnell spoke during a closed session of Senate Republicans on Wednesday.”[nesday afternoon] Border politics turned upside down for R.[epublicans]And it casts doubt on linking the border with Ukraine.'' Punchbowl News report early Wednesday evening. The report adds:
McConnell mentioned [Donald] It referred to Trump as the “candidate” and pointed out that the former president wants to center his 2024 campaign on immigration. And Republican leaders said, “We don't want to do anything that undermines him.”
Mr. McConnell's comments were vague but important, said Chris Chmielenski, president of the Immigrant Responsibility Project.
Mr. Chmielenski said Mr. McConnell's representatives had already made it clear that Mr. McConnell would only pass legislation if it was approved by more than half of his 49-member caucus, or the majority of the roughly 20 senators who have little interest in the issue. He has said that he supports it.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) listens to reporters after a policy luncheon at the Capitol on July 11, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
McConnell's ambiguity, he said, therefore amounts to tacit approval for Republicans to shine a spotlight on hostile polls if they oppose the giveaway.
That's the dynamic that changed yesterday. Ahead of yesterday afternoon's meeting, he was lashing out in favor of a bill that doesn't exist. Now he's saying, “Do what you like.”
This zigzag policy makes sense for McConnell, Chmielenski said.
This allows him to privately tell his donors: “Listen, I want open borders, I want more legal immigration, more illegal immigration, all of that. Let's let in more.” But at the same time, he could go to the Republican base. [via media outlets]And without saying anything, they say, “Yeah, listen, I'm not saying I agree with this.” [publicly] That he is against it.
“It's hard to say what leaders are thinking,” said Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio). [McConnell is] This sends a signal to Democrats that they will have to make far greater compromises than they have made in the past… [and] He may see the political writing on the wall and think the package doesn't have a great future. ”
RELATED VIDEO — McConnell sides with Biden on tying support for Ukraine and Israel: 'I see everything as interconnected':
But a careful reading reveals how evasive and vague even Mr. McConnell's top lawmakers were on Thursday morning, trying to zigzag between important donors and irreplaceable voters.
“I think, at least for now, there's still an attempt to come to a conclusion that will satisfy a lot of Republicans,” Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R.S., told reporters Thursday. Told. “We are at a critical moment and we have to drive hard to get this done. [and] If you can't get there, go to plan B. ”
“What he was talking about was what he saw as kind of a political agenda moving forward,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). “He wasn't waving the white flag at all on border security.”
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mr. McConnell's chief negotiator, was also equivocal in an interview. “He has not made any recommendations and has no intention of withdrawing from this matter,” Lankford said.
“I think he was making a political point, but I just couldn't understand why he was backing down.”
Lankford @LeaderMcConnell re: border
“I think he was explaining the politics. I couldn't tell he was going backwards at all.” pic.twitter.com/YmqMMwpVP1
— Alan He (@alanhe) January 25, 2024
The angriest pushback came from some of the strongest Republican supporters of the immigration bill.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) declared that he is “personally committed to both border issues and border security.” [funding for] Ukraine and Israel are together. ”
“It’s like parallel universe shit.” answered Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) when asked about Republican opposition to the deal. Mr. Tillis has been one of the deal's strongest supporters, in part because the federal government uses “parole” loopholes at the border to lure disenfranchised low-wage workers and renters. This is because it will allow the importation of an additional 700,000 people.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) listens during a hearing at the Capitol on January 27, 2021 in Washington. (Lee Vogel/Pool, via AP)
In fact, the border deal will accelerate the flow of government-controlled illegal immigration into American workplaces, according to a leaked report. The deal would also increase funding for government programs that bring immigrants from South America to U.S. cities, and would spend more tax dollars to house, feed, train and hide immigrants during the 2024 election cycle. Become.
The leaked bill's explanation does not include any significant curbs on illegal immigration or illegal immigration. Instead, the bill would allow more immigrants to be imported for low-wage jobs that would otherwise be sent to Americans for decent wages.
The bill also includes new incentives for foreign college graduates to take low-wage jobs at Fortune 500 companies. These imported graduates are pushing many young American graduates off the first rung of the career ladder.
Mitt Romney: “I think the border is a very important issue to Donald Trump. And I think he's telling Republican senators and congressmen that he doesn't want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame it on Biden. The fact that they are telling us this is truly frightening.” pic.twitter.com/L1LJex10JY
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 25, 2024
Many supporters of expanded immigration blamed Donald Trump, not the negative impact immigrants have on Americans.
“I think anything that gets in the way of that negotiation would be tragic. … I hope no one tries to take this away for campaign purposes,” said Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) ) said.
“It comes down to a political decision by Republicans on whether they want to solve this problem or leave it as a wedge for President Trump to use,” said Murphy, a Democrat.
“Americans are suffering as a result of what's happening at our border,” Romney told reporters. “People who don't try to solve problems run for president. As opposed to saying, 'Hey, save that problem.' Don't settle. Let me take credit for solving it later. ”
Lobbyists are looking for alternative ways for the government to maintain the supply of imported workers, renters and consumers.
“This moment was inevitable.” tweeted “We're not going to be able to do that,” said Andrea Flores, a top lobbyist for investors at FWD.us, which has profited from increased immigration.
Even if Trump's own policies were part of the deal, it wasn't enough. It's time for Democrats to identify their own solutions at the border and help Biden focus on developing a federal response to the urban migrant crisis.
Democrats need to stop letting President Trump dictate policy solutions at this point. Because once again abolishing parole and reinstating Title 42 would make the border even worse.Democrats have a better solution than what constitutes this deal, they just need to start touting it.
Biden's border policy is now the No. 1 issue in American politics, according to a January 17-18 Harvard University poll. According to the poll, 57% of voters said they miss Donald Trump's policies on the economy, immigration and crime.
The clip is a must-see. In 2007, Biden was asked whether he recognized the existence of sanctuary cities. His answer was “no”. He said sanctuary cities have become garbage dumps and the only reason they exist is because the federal government doesn't enforce the laws.
2020 Biden – Illegal activities make cities safer… pic.twitter.com/5GiS7WtS8I
— MAZE (@mazemoore) January 25, 2024
