Some Republican senators are taking steps toward a House proposal that would block the passage of government funds unless the southern border is secured.
Negotiations over border security, which began with Biden administration officials before the holidays, are already contingent on passing $60 billion in aid to Ukraine in Biden's national security package. But as time passes with no clear deadline in sight for a deal, some lawmakers are starting to look for other ways to spend the annual budget to pass the border security bill they want.
Deadlines for funding some government agencies have been staggered to January 19th and February 2nd. Lawmakers have floated the idea of using this deadline pressure to pass border security measures. The Senate has passed just three of the 12 2024 spending bills, leaving just 10 days before it returns on Monday to approve the first round of funding for multiple government agencies. .
“All options are on the table,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) told FOX News Digital in an interview Thursday. “But it's ironic that when we have to beg the president of the United States to secure our borders, we also have to give up something, whether it's money for Ukraine or something related to government spending measures.” it might be.”
Republican rebels target government shutdown fears in latest effort to push for stricter border policies
Sen. Roger Marshall, Republican of Kansas, speaks during a Senate Budget Committee hearing on March 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
In a post on X this week, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) urged Republicans in the House and Senate to “turn things around by making conditions on government funding for border security.”
“Biden has the legal authority to stop this barbaric flood of illegal immigration and human trafficking. He simply refuses to exercise it,” he wrote.
On Wednesday, 60 House Republicans held a press conference at the southern border in Eagle Pass, Texas. “Congress must use the power of the wallet to force the Biden administration to enforce the law and restore order at the border,” Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, who was visiting the border, told Fox News Digital. ” he said.
“If the Biden administration doesn't close the border, we will shut down the government. We control the money,” he said.
Rep. Eric Burleson (R-Missouri) told Fox News Digital that voters in his district would support Congress shutting down the government if it forced Democrats to take action near the border. .
As deadline approaches, the Senate passes only three of 12 spending bills.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told reporters Wednesday that officials are “making progress” toward a deal. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images)
Senate Republicans are scheduled to meet next week to discuss the status of negotiations. Before the holiday break, 15 Senate Republicans sent a letter to Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso of Wyoming requesting a meeting to discuss the ongoing negotiations, which have become secretive and vague. It is said that there are.
Marshall said he has had several conversations with Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. — One of the lead negotiators — The major obstacles Democrats have in the current negotiations are stricter asylum standards and increased parole.
“If James Lankford can't solve this problem, I don't know who will,” Marshall said.
Key lawmakers return to the Hill early to continue border security talks as House Republicans visit border
Sen. Mike Lee, Republican from Utah (Cheris May/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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But on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told reporters that even though the House had not moved on from a hard-line border proposal that would significantly change eligibility for asylum seekers, officials agreed He said he was making “progress” toward that goal. Also called HR2.
“We're closer than we've ever been,” Schumer said. “But this is a very difficult problem. And there are still things that are different and problems that need to be overcome.”
FOX News' Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
