Republican senators are set to address the Senate floor on Wednesday, urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring several pieces of border legislation for votes. This move comes as Vice President Kamala Harris and vulnerable Democrats express support for border security measures.
Senator Katie Britt of Alabama will lead the group in requesting consideration of strict bills related to the border, immigration, and cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The proposed legislation includes the Laken Riley Act and the WALL Act.
The Laken Riley Act, named after a 22-year-old college student who was tragically killed by an illegal immigrant, aims to require ICE to detain illegal immigrants involved in specific criminal offenses like theft and burglary.
Senator Jon Tester of Montana, a vulnerable Democrat, previously blocked a vote on a modified version of the Laken Riley Act but has since expressed support for the bill if it were to come for a stand-alone vote.
Another bill being advocated for by the Republican senators is the WALL Act, which seeks to allocate $25 billion for the construction of the southern border wall.
Despite the Republicans' requests, Schumer's office has not indicated whether he plans to bring these bills for votes. The majority leader has shown reluctance to schedule votes on these measures so far.
Meanwhile, Harris and other Senate Democrats have highlighted a failed immigration bill as a bipartisan effort to secure the southern border. However, the bill faced limited Republican support and criticism from some GOP senators who argued it could worsen the border situation.
Senator James Lankford, who was involved in negotiating the immigration bill, criticized Harris for using the legislation in her campaign without actively participating in the negotiation process.
Overall, the push for border legislation in the Senate reflects ongoing debates and tensions surrounding immigration policies and border security measures in the current political landscape.
