All articles tagged with #border funding
A heated closed-door Senate GOP meeting revealed frustrations over border funding, with Senator Rand Paul opposing the budget bill's border allocations and questioning the cost justifications presented by Stephen Miller, highlighting internal divisions over immigration spending.
The White House is intensifying its criticism of House Republican leadership for going on recess without approving funding for Ukraine and addressing border issues. The White House has been pressuring House Republicans to take up a Senate-passed $95 billion national defense supplemental bill, but Speaker Mike Johnson and his team have rejected it, citing the bill's lack of focus on border security. The White House argues that the Republicans' inaction undermines Ukraine's defenses, endangers NATO, and denies military assistance to Israel, while also highlighting potential threats if the funding is not approved.
President Biden urged Republicans to support a Senate compromise bill for border funding and national security, accusing Donald Trump of obstructing the bill for political gain. Biden emphasized the importance of the bill for tightening border security and providing crucial funding to Ukraine in its fight against Russia, while also criticizing Trump's influence on congressional Republicans. Trump's campaign fired back, blaming Biden for the increase in border crossings and asserting that Trump would use executive powers to "shut the border down" if reelected. Biden highlighted the urgency of providing aid to Ukraine and framed supporting the bill as standing up to Putin.
Conservative groups and former border officials are urging Republican lawmakers to reject a potential compromise on border funding that falls short of the House signature legislation passed this year. Negotiations are ongoing between Republicans, Democrats, and the Biden administration over a $106 billion supplemental spending agreement for the border, Israel, and Ukraine. Republicans have demanded policy changes, including asylum limits, to restrict the entry of migrants into the U.S. Conservatives argue that the compromise proposal does not adequately address the ongoing border crisis and that the inclusion of the entirety of H.R. 2 is necessary to secure the border. It remains uncertain if a deal will be reached before lawmakers leave for the holiday break.
Democrats are expressing anger and disappointment over reports that the Biden administration is considering new restrictions on asylum at the border in order to secure a deal on its supplemental funding request. Lawmakers accuse the White House of "selling out" migrants to appease Republicans, calling the proposed changes to the asylum system "callous and inhumane." Talks have been ongoing between lawmakers and the administration, with Republicans demanding more restrictions on asylum and the release of migrants into the U.S. As talks stall, President Biden has indicated openness to "significant compromises." The administration is reportedly considering a new border authority similar to Title 42 and a nationwide expansion of expedited removal. Some Democrats insist on a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the U.S. The situation at the southern border remains overwhelmed, with over 10,000 encounters reported on Tuesday alone.
Speaker Mike Johnson, leader of the lower chamber's Republican caucus, is facing challenges in reaching a consensus on border funding and international aid. Negotiations in the Senate are already facing hurdles, and there is doubt that Johnson will be able to replicate any success in the lower chamber due to Republican infighting. Meanwhile, Republicans are making efforts to suppress the vote of college students, particularly targeting young voters who have consistently delivered wins for Democrats in recent election cycles. Rupert Murdoch is set to be deposed in relation to a defamation lawsuit between Smartmatic and Fox News. Senator Tommy Tuberville is blocking military promotions as a protest against the Defense Department's policy on abortion, blaming the military's weakness on "wokeness." Two Jewish Democrats are leading the charge against a xenophobic bill proposed by a Montana Republican Representative that seeks to "deport Palestinians" from the US. Major media outlets have shown less coverage and defense of Donald Trump's incendiary remarks compared to their coverage of Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables" comment in 2016. Representative James Comer rejected Hunter Biden's offer to testify in a public House Oversight Committee hearing, despite demanding his testimony for months. The Koch network endorsed Nikki Haley for the Republican primary, continuing their campaign against Donald Trump.
Senator Lindsey Graham expects that Ukraine aid will not be separated from border funding as Congress seeks a way forward after a shutdown bill excluded Ukraine. Graham believes that a combination of border security, Ukraine funding, and disaster aid will have the support of the majority of Senate Republicans. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy did not include Ukraine funding in a bill to keep the government open, despite similar legislation in the Senate. McCarthy argues that addressing the crisis at the border is a higher priority. Graham supports a strong border security measure and proposes up to $70 billion in Ukraine funding, citing the need for it due to the ongoing conflict.