WASHINGTON — Republicans are gearing up for a looming fight over immigration, a volatile issue the party believes can help unite its fractured base.
While most of the focus in Washington is currently on President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, Republicans acknowledge that is an issue that may not be as ripe for them to seize on further into the 2022 midterm election cycle if the pandemic recedes as expected over the next year.
Republicans increasingly view Biden’s sweeping immigration proposals and growing problems at the U.S.-Mexico border as longer-lasting and thornier issues that could haunt Democrats down the road. And in the short term, Republicans see few other issues that can more effectively bring the party together at a time when they desperately need to heal their divisions over former President Donald Trump’s future role.
