Carl Gibson, AlterNet
January 26, 2024
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
US Senate negotiators have reached a framework on a border security bill that will be unveiled as soon as next week, with a vote before the election likely despite former President Donald Trump's efforts to delay it.
According to CNN, Sens. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona) have agreed on a border package aimed at curbing the flow of migrants at the Southern border. The framework stipulates that the Department of Homeland Security would be granted emergency powers to shut down the border outside of all legal points of entry if there are more than 5,000 encounters at the border in one week. Special considerations would still be in place for migrants who can prove that they're fleeing torture or persecution in their home countries.
In addition to the strict measures at the border, the bill would also drastically shorten the period of time in which asylum cases can be considered from 10 years to just six months. And even under the new emergency powers, there would still be a mandatory minimum of 1,400 asylum applications to be processed for migrants coming through ports of entry. President Joe Biden voiced support for the framework on Friday and has said previously that he would sign a bipartisan bill if it made it to his desk.
If the bill were currently in effect, the border would already be shut down as there were a record 300,000-plus border crossings in December alone. Many of those crossings were in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) is currently defying a Supreme Court order to cut razor wire along the Southern border. Abbott argues the razor wire is necessary to stop an "invasion," but the Court reiterated in its ruling that the federal government — not the states — has jurisdiction over national borders.
While the final details of the legislation are still forthcoming, the bill would represent the most significant immigration-related legislation in decades if passed. However, Trump has been lobbying Republicans to not support any border legislation until they get a "perfect" bill, which means its passage is not likely in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives even if it passes the Democratic-run US Senate.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) had been pushing for funding for border security to be included in a larger foreign aid package that would also include new appropriations for Ukraine's ongoing war against Russia, Taiwan's defense of its own borders in the face of threats from China and Israel as it continues its bombing of Gaza. But this week, McConnell acknowledged that the politics of the November presidential election had complicated efforts to pass a bill, which suggests Trump is in the ear of McConnell's caucus.
On Thursday, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) accused the former president of sabotaging a legislative solution to border security in order to reap political rewards in November, saying Trump wants an indefinite delay "because he wants to blame Biden."
Mitt Romney accuses Trump of delaying border legislation 'because he wants to blame Biden'
(Image: Screengrab via X / @mkraju)
Carl GibsonJanuary 25, 2024
One Republican senator says former President Donald Trump is making the problems at the Southern border worse by pressuring other Republicans to stop any legislative fixes until after the election in November.
In a recent interview with CNN, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) — who ran for president as the 2012 Republican nominee — slammed Trump for exacerbating problems in the US immigration system.
"I think the border is a very important issue for Donald Trump," Romney told congressional reporter Manu Raju. "And the fact that he would communicate to Republican senators and congresspeople that he doesn't want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is really appalling."
"We have a crisis at the border. The American people are suffering as a result of what's happening at the border," he added. "And someone running for president ought to try to get the problem solved as opposed to saying 'hey, save that problem, don't solve it. Let me take credit for solving it later.'"
According to the department of Customs and Border Protection, there were more than 300,000 border crossings in December — a record high. The Rio Grande River crossing at Eagle Pass is particularly dangerous, with three migrants — including two children — drowning there earlier this month. Alicia Barcena, who is Mexico's secretary of foreign affairs, said last month that the traffic at the US/Mexico border can be attributed to root causes like "poverty, inequality, violence and family reunification."
A legislative solution to the US' border security is still in the works, as some members of Congress want to tie funding for Ukraine's ongoing defense of its own borders against Russian aggression with US border funding. However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) said the politics of the November election has complicated that approach — a possible reference to Trump's meddling in legislative negotiations. Democrats have argued that border security should instead be addressed by revising the US' antiquated immigration system.
"Our country has failed our immigrant neighbors," said Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan). "Our immigration system is so broken that many families are waiting 10 to 20 years to get interviews scheduled. It has been 28 years since Congress passed immigration reform. We have a responsibility to act."
READ MORE: 'I will not help the Democrats': GOP rep says he'll torch border deal to deny Biden a win
Watch the video of Romney's remarks below, or by clicking this link.
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