The third-ranking Republican in the Senate joined Republicans in opposing the bipartisan border security and foreign aid package.
Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said he would not vote for the $118 billion border and immigration deal, which also includes aid for Israel and Ukraine.
Barrasso, who is up for re-election in November, said: “The proposed legislation does not meet most Americans’ standards for securing our current borders. It will not force the Biden administration to stop abusing current laws. ” he said.
“Joe Biden will not enact any new laws and refuses to use the tools we already have to end this crisis. I cannot vote for this bill. Americans will look to the next election to end the border crisis.”
Sen. Tim Scott says ‘absolute no’ to Senate border, immigration deal
Sen. John Barrasso speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 19, 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Senate negotiators announced an $118 billion additional spending deal late Sunday, including funding for Ukraine, Israel and about $20 billion for border and immigration issues. It is.
This includes new border authorities that will allow Title 42-style deportations when immigration levels exceed 5,000 people per day on a seven-day rolling average, speeding up the process while preserving asylum status. narrow down, provide additional work permits to asylum seekers, and fund a significant increase in refugee numbers. Staffing borders, immigration courts, and asylum offices.
The foreign aid portion of the deal includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion for Israel, and aid to Indo-Pacific allies.
But the deal has faced significant opposition from conservatives, particularly members of Congress and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who say the deal is “dysfunctional on arrival.”
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Migrants are flooding into Eagle Pass, Texas, waiting to be processed. (Fox News)
House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) also promised that the Senate bill would not be voted on in the House. Scalise oversees the House schedule.
Senate negotiators, including Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.), have been trying for months to finalize a deal on border security and foreign aid. Republicans had demanded that more funding for Ukraine be tied to legislation to address the illegal immigration crisis at the southern border.
Supporters of the bipartisan deal say it enacts tougher and faster enforcement measures to deal with the overwhelming number of asylum seekers who cross the border illegally. According to the text of the law, if the number of illegal border crossings exceeds 5,000 people per day on a five-day average, deportation authorities will automatically be activated and migrants will be sent back to Mexico without the opportunity to apply for asylum. become. If that number reaches 4,000, the presidential administration will have the option of using deportation powers.
But Republican critics say the standard of 5,000 illegal immigrants per day invites that many illegal immigrants. They also argue that President Biden currently has the authority to secure the border and no additional action by Congress is needed.
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Sens. James Lankford and Kyrsten Sinema were the lead negotiators on the border security and foreign funding package deal. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Democrats also criticize the bill for lacking a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Barrasso is the second Senate Republican leader to publicly oppose the deal.
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines (R-Mont.) declared he would vote “no” on Monday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“I cannot support a bill that does not secure our borders, provides taxpayer-funded lawyers for illegal immigrants, and donates billions of dollars to radical open border groups. I say no,” Daines wrote. Ta.
Other lawmakers, including Sens. Tim Scott (R.C.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), said they do not support the package.
“I’m pro-Hades, no,” Scott told FOX News Digital on Monday.
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“I’m grateful that we can finally have a conversation about the border, but it’s wrong. The border should be in silos. We should be fixing and securing our southern border, and the president of the United States We can do it right now,” Scott said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said a vote on the package could come as early as Wednesday.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion, Jamie Joseph, Adam Shaw and Andrew Murray contributed to this report.
