Senate Negotiations for Border Security Bill Criticized by Missouri Senator
Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt expressed his concerns about the ongoing negotiations for a border security bill in a recent statement. Senator Schmidt highlighted several issues he believes exist with the current bill and urged his Senate colleagues to reconsider their support.
One of the senator's main criticisms revolves around President Joe Biden's approach to border security. Senator Schmidt argues that negotiating with a president who shows no interest in securing the border is futile. He pointed out that President Biden reversed the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, paid contractors not to construct the wall, and sued Texas for their efforts to secure the border. Schmidt believes that trusting Biden to uphold promises in the future is unrealistic.
Furthermore, the senator questioned the idea of normalizing the acceptance of large numbers of illegal immigrants. He believes that the bill, as it stands, fails to address the current problems and potentially exacerbates the issue by not imposing stricter measures on illegal entry.
Senator Schmidt also criticized the rushed nature of the negotiations, expressing concerns that the senators have not been presented with the full text of the bill. He argued that it is offensive to both senators and the American people that they are being asked to vote on a bill that has not been thoroughly reviewed and analyzed. Additionally, Schmidt raised concerns about the limited time given to senators to scrutinize the bill before closing the debate.
The senator emphasized that securing the border is unnecessary under existing laws and suggested that President Biden simply enforce these laws instead. He accused the president of not wanting to secure the border and called attention to the nine million individuals who have entered the country illegally during Biden's presidency.
Schmidt also criticized the lack of House Speaker involvement in the negotiations, suggesting that the absence of unity between the Senate and the House undermines the seriousness of the negotiations. He alleged that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has had discussions with House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, further weakening the credibility of the process.
In closing, Senator Schmidt expressed his hope that fellow Republicans would recognize the flaws in the current bill and refrain from voting in favor of it. He believes that the bill is ultimately doomed in the House and that it would be more productive to hold President Biden accountable for his actions regarding the border.
The senator's concerns revolve around issues of border security, the normalization of illegal immigration, the rushed nature of the negotiations, and the lack of cooperation between the Senate and the House. These concerns reflect broader disagreements within Congress regarding the approach to border security and immigration policy.
