WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing fierce criticism from conservatives, Senate Republicans on Monday resisted pushing forward a bipartisan proposal aimed at cracking down on illegal border crossings that is likely to be defeated in Congress. , suggesting that leaders may not have a clear path to approving wartime aid. For Ukraine.
In a dramatic development, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who is not authorized to speak publicly about the meeting, advised Republican senators in a closed session Wednesday to vote against the first procedural vote. According to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It came just hours after the Kentucky Republican told his colleagues on the Senate floor that “now is the time for Congress to act.” But Mr. McConnell has struggled to put together a conference to support a $118 billion border security policy and funding package for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
Senate negotiators released the text of the bill Sunday night, hoping the details could win over skeptics. The carefully negotiated deal represented a rightward shift in Senate negotiations on border measures, but opposition from conservatives remained strong. They blasted border policy proposals, led by former President Donald Trump, as insufficient.
“This is a gift to the Democratic Party. And this is kind of putting the worst border in history on the shoulders of the Republican Party,” Trump, the likely Republican presidential nominee, said Monday on “The Dan Bongino Show.” ” he said. “They want this for the presidential election so they can blame the Republicans for the worst border in history.”
Many Senate Republicans returning to the Capitol on Monday expressed doubts about whether they would support moving forward with the policy, including some who have expressed support for aid to Ukraine and the outline of changes to border policy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is scheduled to cast a key test vote on Wednesday.
“The actions here over the next few days are a turning point in history,” the New York Democrat said in a floor speech. “The security of our country and the world is at risk.”
Mr. Schumer worked closely with Mr. McConnell on border security measures after Republican leaders advocated working with Mr. McConnell as a way to win support for aid to Ukraine. Democratic leaders urged their colleagues across the aisle to “turn off the political noise” and vote yes.
“For years, our Republican colleagues have been demanding that the border be fixed. And they've always said it should be done by law. Actually introducing a bill. It was only recently that they changed it when it seemed like a possibility,” Schumer said.
But Republicans expressed deep disagreements about the bill. During a 90-minute closed-door meeting Monday night, their discussion turned into shouting.
“Time out!” Iowa State Sen. Joni Ernst, a retired lieutenant general from the Iowa Army National Guard, said in one exchange. “Don't worry!”
Republican senators said they were unlikely to vote to advance in Wednesday's test vote and wanted to discuss changes to the bill, a request that would further delay final action on the bill.
“I think Wednesday's vote is too early for most members,” said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican.
Sen. Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi, predicted Wednesday's tally would fall short of the required 60 votes. “I think this proposal is dead,” he told reporters after leaving an earlier meeting with other Republican leaders.
For months, Mr. McConnell and Mr. Schumer have emphasized the urgency of approving tens of billions of dollars to fight Ukraine, saying the United States' ability to strengthen democracy around the world is at stake. However, due to funding stalls in Congress, the Pentagon halted shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kiev.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has already said the proposal would be “dysfunctional on arrival” if it passes the Senate, but Biden urged the Republican leader to “pay close attention to what's going on in the Senate.”
Biden told reporters at a meeting with members of the Culinary Union in Las Vegas that Congress had not approved his funding request for more Border Patrol agents and immigration agents to handle the number of migrants. He pointed out that there was no. “I need help,” he said. “Why aren't they helping me?”
The White House also said Biden would veto a House bill that would send only military aid to Israel, calling it a “cynic” bill that would eliminate funding for Ukraine, the border and other national security needs. It was criticized as a “political maneuver.”
Johnson and the rest of the top House Republican leaders said in a joint statement Monday that “this bill fails in every policy area necessary to secure our borders and will actually encourage more illegal immigration.” He said he opposes the bill.
A statement from Rep. Johnson and Reps. Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer and Elise Stefanik pointed to a provision in the bill that would give work permits to immigrants who qualify for the asylum system. They also argued that it would support a “catch-and-release” policy in which immigrants who enter the asylum system are placed in monitoring programs while they wait for their asylum claims to be finalized.
Under the proposal, immigrants seeking asylum would face a tougher and faster process before their claims are considered. The bar for the first interview has been raised, with many people being interviewed within days of arriving at the border. A final decision on their asylum claims will be decided within months, instead of the years it currently takes.
The National Border Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents, announced Monday that it supports the proposal and would eliminate illegal border crossings nationwide. The group supported President Trump in 2020 and has been highly critical of President Biden's border policies.
But House Republican leaders said it would be a “waste of time to consider this Senate bill in its current form.”
Still, the lead Republican negotiator on the bill, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, implored his colleagues to reconsider the bill and even expressed openness to restarting negotiations.
“Work is currently underway,” he told reporters. “So I'm not going to have a funeral for this. The House has already had a funeral.”
Some Democratic lawmakers also oppose the bill, taking issue with its restrictions on asylum seekers. Immigration advocates also said the bill would cut off important due process rights for people who have fled to the United States to escape often horrific violence.
But Democrats generally favor the idea of tougher border measures.
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the bill's lead Democratic negotiator, said: “This country needs to do something to stop fighting over immigration, improve border control, and fix our broken immigration system. I think they are crying out for us to do something.” ”
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Associated Press Las Vegas writer Darlene Superville and Kevin Freeking in Washington contributed.
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