Former Department of Homeland Security officials are supporting Speaker Mike Johnson's firm stance on border security in the context of congressional spending negotiations. They advocate for the inclusion of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, in any spending deal, citing the act as a solution to the border crisis. Johnson, along with other Republicans, visited the southern border and emphasized the necessity of H.R. 2, which proposes stricter asylum limits and the continuation of wall construction. The Biden administration has requested border funding but faces GOP opposition demanding tighter immigration controls. Democrats in the Senate have rejected H.R. 2, while the White House accuses Republicans of blocking efforts to address border issues. Negotiations continue, with the GOP pushing for a unified stance behind H.R. 2.
Rep. Celeste Maloy, along with about 60 other GOP House members, visited the U.S.-Mexico border to observe the current state of border security, which they claim is in its worst condition ever. Maloy criticized the Biden administration for not taking sufficient action and highlighted HR2, a Republican-backed House resolution aimed at imposing stricter immigration controls and resuming the construction of a border wall. The visit aimed to draw attention to HR2 and the need for policy changes to address what GOP members describe as a crisis at the border.
Republican Rep. Troy Nehls has expressed opposition to any border security deal that could potentially boost President Joe Biden's approval ratings, stating he will not support measures that aid Democrats politically. Nehls is holding out for a proposal similar to HR 2, a stringent immigration bill that previously passed the House without Democratic support. This stance comes as senators are negotiating a bipartisan border security deal, which is less extreme than HR 2 but aims to garner enough support to pass. The issue underscores the political tension surrounding immigration policy and border security in the U.S.
House Republicans are poised to reject a Senate immigration compromise aimed at addressing the surge of migrants at the southern border and facilitating aid to Ukraine and Israel. The GOP insists on a hardline immigration bill, HR 2, which is at odds with Senate Democrats and the White House. The situation highlights the difficulty of achieving bipartisan consensus on immigration, with some Republicans unwilling to support any measure that could improve President Biden's approval ratings. The Senate's ongoing negotiations, which do not include a pathway to citizenship and focus on restrictive measures, are unlikely to satisfy the demands of the House GOP, who are also considering government shutdown tactics to push their agenda.
