exclusive: The White House said Tuesday that the bipartisan Senate border bill is “a critical moment for House Republicans,” declaring that how Republicans vote “will define the legacy of their narrow majority” in Congress.
Fox News Digital reported a memo written by White House Deputy Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor Andrew Bates, titled “Will House Republicans Vote Yes on Border Security or More Fentanyl and Donald Trump?” I got the memo titled.
House Speaker says Senate border bill will be ‘void on arrival’ if it reaches the floor: ‘It’s even worse than expected’
In his memo, Bates touted the Senate’s bipartisan $118 billion border security and foreign aid package. The bill allocates $20 billion for border security and gives the federal government temporary authority to expel immigrants if the average number of daily border crossings exceeds a threshold. Elements of border security also include an end to “catch-and-release,” tightened refugee screening standards, and an attempt to speed up the processing of asylum applications.
President Biden speaks at a campaign event at the Pearson Community Center in Las Vegas, Sunday, February 4, 2024. (Ian Moll/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Although there is some Republican support in the Senate, House Republicans like Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) say the bill would be “dead on arrival” once it reaches the House. He said the bill is “even worse than we are.” Be expected. “ Republicans argue that the bill does not do enough to ameliorate the border crisis and stop the release of illegal immigrants into the interior.
“The bipartisan border security agreement is the toughest, fairest, and most important border security legislation in decades,” Bates said in the memo, drawing support from the Border Security Coalition, the Chamber of Commerce and others. He said that
white house in washington dc (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
5 key details of the controversial Senate border agreement
Bates detailed the bill, noting it would create more than 1,500 new U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Hiring 1,200 new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees. Equipment to help detect fentanyl and thousands of new asylum workers.
The bill also includes a provision that would allow authorities to cut off entry to the U.S. at the southern border only if they encounter a seven-day rolling average of 5,000 people per day, or 8,500 people in a single day.
Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates speaks as Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young, center, listens as Council of Economic Advisers Chair Cecilia Rouse speaks during a press conference in the Brady Room of the White House in Washington, DC, March 28, 2022. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)
At that point, DHS is obligated to expel without processing all immigrants except unaccompanied children. This authority can only be terminated if the seven-day encounter rate decreases by at least 25%, and DHS has 14 days to terminate the authority.
However, the President may suspend this authority for up to 45 days, and by the third calendar year, the DHS Secretary’s use of the authority will be limited to half of the calendar year. DHS may also implement this authority at its discretion if the average number of encounters per day exceeds her 4,000.
Republican senators call for ‘sufficient time’ to consider border security bill
The bill also facilitates the granting of two-year work permits to migrants released into the interior. Provide government-funded legal advice to immigrants and children. Tighten language regarding screening of immigrants applying for asylum. Give work permits and temporary visas to 250,000 children who immigrated on temporary work visas and then become adults. Raise the upper limit on the number of green cards by more than 50,000 per year.
The bill also establishes an expedited path for Afghans who seek refuge in the United States to obtain green cards.
Oklahoma State Sen. James Lankford outside the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, January 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“This is a critical moment for House Republicans,” Bates wrote. “After opposing the record border security funding that Joe Biden has signed every year of his presidency, House Republicans are finally determined to secure the border and prioritize the needs of families over partisan bickering.” Will you say ‘yes’?”
Bates continued, “Will House Republicans say ‘yes’ to more law enforcement agencies like the Border Patrol, whose unions are supporting this bipartisan deal, or will they instead decide to add more fentanyl and Would we say ‘yes’ to Donald Trump’s insistence on slowing border security in the name of security?” Of politics? ”
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Bates said Republicans have “important choices” to make that “will define the legacy of their narrow majority.”
“And this is the last meaningful chance for House Republicans to block border security blockades that date back to Day 1 of blocking the president’s comprehensive immigration reform plan,” Bates said.
But Republican senators Tom Cotton, Mike Lee, Mike Braun and Bill Hagerty are adamantly opposed, and there is significant opposition in the House.
House Speaker Mike Johnson led Republican leaders in issuing a statement opposing the border deal. (Getty Images)
“I’ve seen enough,” House Speaker Johnson wrote to X. “This bill is even worse than we expected and far from ending the border disaster the president has wrought,” the Democratic chief negotiator declared. “Under this bill, the border will never close.” The law says “No.” ”
“If this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival,” the Speaker declared.
Republican senators rally against bipartisan border deal, citing power to halt Biden’s ’emergency’ legislation
House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) said the Senate bill would not be voted on in the House. Scalise oversees the House schedule.
“To be clear, the Senate border bill will not be voted on in the House,” Scalise wrote to X. “What those pushing this ‘deal’ are not saying is this: The deal admits 5,000 illegal immigrants per day, and automatic work authorization for asylum seekers means more illegal immigrants. It will cause you to attract.”
Republican presidential candidate and former President Trump speaks with reporters at the International Teamsters headquarters in Washington, DC, January 31, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Additionally, former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner in 2024, told Republicans that voting for a “terrible” bill that would only give shutdown powers in the event of 5,000 encounters a day would be “just a fool or a radical leftist.” Only Democrats,” he warned. Closing borders now must happen. ”
“This bill is a great gift to Democrats and a death wish to Republicans,” Trump wrote on his Truth social, adding that the bill should not be tied to foreign aid.
President Trump warned Republicans, “Don’t do anything stupid!!!”
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President Trump continued, “Democrats have broken through on immigration and the border.” “They should fix it.”
In another post, Trump said the “ridiculous bill” was “a highly sophisticated attempt by Republicans to hold the radical left Democrats accountable for what they did to the border in time for the most important election ever.” It’s nothing but a trap.”
He added: “Don’t be fooled!!!”
Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
