Democrats’ Border Deal Dead On Arrival
House Republicans have swiftly rejected the Democratic proposal to resurrect a failed border deal in the Senate, denouncing it as a political maneuver aimed at shielding vulnerable Democrats in upcoming swing state elections.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declared the proposed border bill, slated for a Senate vote this week, as “dead on arrival” in the House. Instead, he urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to consider the Republicans’ comprehensive border bill, H.R. 2.
“For over three years, Congressional Democrats have watched as the Biden Administration’s policies opened our borders to criminal elements, including drug cartels and potential terrorists, as well as countless illegal immigrants,” asserted Johnson, alongside House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), chairwoman of the House Republican Conference.
“Now, Leader Schumer seeks to shield his vulnerable members by pushing for a vote on a bill that previously failed in the Senate, largely because it would enshrine many of the disastrous Biden policies responsible for this crisis,” they added.
Schumer’s decision to revive the border deal, outlined in a recent “Dear Colleague” letter, is unlikely to succeed. Besides facing resistance from Senate Republicans, the proposal has garnered opposition from Hispanic and progressive members, who rejected it during a prior vote in February.
While Schumer argues that reviving the border deal demonstrates Democrats’ commitment to action, Republicans view the vote as an opportunity for vulnerable Democrats to appear proactive in addressing the border crisis.
Several Democratic senators, including Sherrod Brown in Ohio, Jon Tester in Montana, Bob Casey in Pennsylvania, Jacky Rosen in Nevada, and Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin, are running in swing states where border security ranks as a top concern.
In February, Republicans dismissed the deal as insufficient, dubbing it a “fig leaf” that wouldn’t effectively curb illegal immigration at the southern border. Conversely, Democrats hailed it as the most conservative border security measure in decades.
The proposed legislation, initially tied to aid for Ukraine, quickly unraveled after its announcement, with Democrats accusing Republicans of obstructing President Joe Biden’s policy victories ahead of the election. Notably, the deal faced opposition from Biden’s 2024 rival, former President Donald Trump.
Despite ongoing negotiations, the White House is considering executive actions to implement many provisions of the border deal independently, including expedited deportations for ineligible asylum seekers and authority to close the border during surges in crossings.
However, lead Democratic negotiator Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) maintains that legislative action is crucial due to the funding it allocates for administering these border policies.
On Monday, the White House expressed firm support for the border vote, urging Senators to prioritize national security over partisan interests.
“We strongly endorse this legislation and urge every Senator to prioritize national security over partisan divides by voting to secure the border,” stated White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.