In recent developments, the United States Congress is in a statewide scramble, attempting to work out a last-minute holiday deal on immigration. The urgency stems from an overwhelming surge of encounters at the southern border. The situation is evolving into a humanitarian crisis, exerting pressure on neighboring towns and cities far from the border.
According to the immigration authorities, an approximate number of 192,000 migrants were apprehended last month. Indicating a 2 percent increase over October's figures, the influx rate appears unceasing this month. In the Tucson sector alone, more than 37,000 apprehensions have taken place in the first two weeks of December.
The impact is significant in Texas, where an increase in border crossings has resulted in the suspension of operations at two international railway crossings. While the immigration situation unfolds, the national rhetoric regarding the issue is reaching a new low.
Meanwhile, the United States Senate's efforts to get a deal across the line are buffeted. Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, delayed the holiday recess with an objective to secure a deal. This includes aid to Ukraine and Israel, in addition to new border policies. However, the path to such a deal is riddled with complications. Policy differences centred on border security may delay any decision until January when the House of Congress resumes.
To complicate matters further, any deal that comes through the Senate may have to contend with former President Donald Trump. There's a possibility that the specifics of a potential deal may not align with Trump's preferences, creating further difficulty. Moreover, Trump continues to exert significant influence over the GOP-led House, suggesting that there may be resistance if the Senate deal does not align closely with the Republican hard-line stance.
Amidst these concerns, there isn’t a clear road map as to where the parties involved may find common ground on this issue.
