The Biden administration blamed Texas Governor Greg Abbott and former President Donald Trump for chaotic scenes at the border, where migrants tore down razor wire and rushed guards, leaving Texas National Guard members injured. The White House press secretary's comments were muddled, blaming Abbott for the chaos and criticizing congressional Republicans for not moving forward with a Biden-backed immigration bill. The administration ignored how border crossings have dropped in areas where Abbott deployed extra resources and how razor wire and barriers have deterred migrants from entering dangerous areas. Texas has been in a legal battle with the federal government over a state law allowing the arrest of migrants crossing the border illegally, and Abbott's spokesman criticized Biden's open border policies for encouraging unsafe and illegal crossings.
Migrant encounters at the Texas border dropped significantly in January, with Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to secure the border being attributed to the decrease. The drop in crossings in Texas contributed to an overall decrease in migrant encounters across the U.S. border. Abbott's response to the immigration issue has boosted his popularity in Texas, and he continues to allocate resources to diminish migrant encounters, including more wire and National Guard troops. The U.S. Senate recently failed to pass an immigration bill that included provisions for border security and foreign aid, including funds for a border wall.
Former Republican and New York Times columnist David Brooks expressed profound shock at the Republican Party's decision to kill off its own immigration bill, stating that it went beyond any previous GOP disasters and put a stake into whatever aspects of the GOP he still believed were admirable. Brooks criticized the GOP for openly showing disdain for democracy and linked their actions to former President Donald Trump's authoritarian ambitions, highlighting the party's refusal to compromise and their propagation of misinformation about the border deal.
Sen. James Lankford revealed that a popular right-wing media figure threatened to "destroy" him if he moved a sweeping immigration bill before the presidential election, with MAGA radio host Jesse Kelly taking credit for the threat. Despite intense negotiations and Republican demands for stringent border security measures, the bill was torpedoed by former President Donald Trump and his allies. Lankford criticized his GOP colleagues for not solving problems, and conservative media figures have worked to undermine the bill, misrepresenting its provisions. Trump has also falsely claimed he never endorsed Lankford for his Senate election.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's influence within the Republican party is waning as his conference rejected his pitch to support a long-awaited immigration and foreign aid bill, leaving it for dead with just four Republicans voting for it. McConnell's struggle to rally support for the bill reflects the party's transformation into the right-wing populist mold of Donald Trump, who fiercely opposed the border deal. The collapse of the package leaves U.S. aid to Ukraine at risk, as McConnell's pleas to prevent Russian incursions into Europe have fallen on deaf ears with conservative lawmakers and voters aligned with the Trump wing. McConnell's diminishing sway extends beyond Ukraine and immigration, as his once-functional relationship with Trump broke down after Jan. 6, 2021, and attacks on his leadership have become common among right-wing Senate Republicans.
Senator James Lankford revealed that an unnamed media personality threatened to "destroy" him for pursuing a bipartisan immigration bill, which ultimately failed in a Senate vote. The bill, crafted with Democratic senators, aimed to address the border crisis but faced opposition from former President Trump and conservative commentators. Lankford expressed frustration over false claims that the bill provided amnesty and highlighted the challenges of breaking through misinformation.
The GOP is facing a perfect storm of dysfunction, with recent events including the failure to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas and a lost vote on aid to Israel, Ronna Romney McDaniel stepping down, and a DC Court of Appeals ruling rejecting Trump's claim of presidential immunity. The ruling paves the way for Trump's potential criminal trial, with the fate of his legal challenge now in the hands of the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Republicans are accused of blocking policies they previously insisted on, and internal conflicts within the party are coming to light.
Senator Ted Cruz criticizes a provision in the bipartisan Senate immigration and foreign aid bill that would centralize authority in Washington, D.C., preventing Texas from challenging its provisions in local courts. Cruz argues that this would likely lead to Texas losing cases due to an abundance of liberal judges in D.C. The bill also includes additional funding for border control and military aid to Ukraine, but faces opposition from Republicans in the House and is deemed unlikely to pass into law.
President Biden urged Congress to pass a bipartisan immigration bill, blaming former President Trump for influencing Republicans to block it. The bill includes border security measures and asylum restrictions negotiated by Sens. Murphy, Lankford, and Sinema. Biden emphasized the importance of the bill for national security and accused Republicans of caving to Trump's pressure. The Senate is expected to take a procedural vote on the bill, which also includes aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, but Republican senators predict it won't advance. House Republican leaders have called the legislation "dead on arrival," and Trump has publicly urged lawmakers to reject it.
Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines urged Congress to reject the Senate's border security bill, calling for a complete shutdown of the border to eliminate illegal entry into the United States. He criticized the bipartisan legislation for not being aggressive enough and emphasized the need to address the overwhelming influx of migrants. The bill includes provisions for border enforcement and asylum changes, but faces opposition from House Republicans and concerns about its attachment to spending requests for foreign conflicts.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is attempting to defuse escalating farmer protests by halting a planned increase in tractor fuel taxes and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Meanwhile, France's opposition to the EU-Mercosur deal has been reinforced as the EU halted talks, and the country's top court has overturned a visa program for wealthy Britons, while former government ministers and their teams are in a state of uncertainty following their departure from the Borne government.
French farmers have launched a "siege of Paris" as they protest against fuel hikes and red tape, with the Prime Minister seeking a resolution to the crisis. The protests come amid a backdrop of widespread support for the farmers and hopes of sparking a larger movement, while a French court has also struck down key provisions of an immigration bill, including a visa deal for wealthy Brits.
Texas officials refuse Biden administration's order to allow border patrol access to a part of the US-Mexico border under state control, leading to a political standoff. Texas governor ordered a fence to be built around the area, and a tragic incident occurred when border agents were allegedly barred from entering the park to rescue a family. Meanwhile, Biden and congressional leaders discussed a potential bipartisan immigration bill, with Senate Republicans warning that the current negotiated deal may be the best version, even if Trump were to win a second presidency. Progressive lawmakers have threatened to reject the bill amid conservative concessions.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigned following political tensions over a contentious immigration bill backed by President Emmanuel Macron, leading to speculation about a new government. Macron's centrist alliance passed the measure with the conservative Republicans party, prompting questions about the government's direction. Borne's resignation comes amid preparations for the European Union elections, and Education Minister Gabriel Attal is reportedly a favorite for the prime minister position.
French President Emmanuel Macron denies being a lame-duck president and vows to stop the rise of the far-right National Rally, despite his flagship immigration bill being voted through with the support of the far-right party. Macron's government has faced criticism and speculation about his ability to govern effectively after his coalition splintered over the bill. However, Macron remains confident, stating that his majority has not shrunk and that he still has three and a half years ahead of him. He argues that tackling security and immigration issues is necessary to prevent the National Rally from gaining power.
