In a race against time, senators in Washington are sprinting to release a highly-anticipated bill that combines border enforcement policy with crucial wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other U.S. allies. This legislative package represents President Joe Biden's best chance to resupply Ukraine with essential military aid, which is a major foreign policy goal aligned with both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The Senate is expected to hold a key test vote on the legislation this week, but it is already encountering significant opposition from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. Amidst the stalemate in Congress over approving billions of dollars in Ukraine aid, the United States has been forced to halt shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they defend their country against Russia's invasion.
Last year, McConnell insisted that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package to overcome opposition from House Republicans. This bill not only covers Ukraine aid but also seeks to overhaul the asylum system at the border, aiming for faster and tougher enforcement measures. It also grants presidents expanded powers to expel migrants immediately if immigration authorities become overwhelmed by the number of asylum seekers.
Interestingly, there has been an election-year shift on immigration, with Biden and many Democrats embracing the notion of strict border enforcement, while former President Donald Trump and his allies argue that the proposed measures are insufficient. Trump's camp contends that presidents already possess sufficient authority to curb illegal border crossings, ensuring that immigration remains a critical issue in the upcoming presidential election.
During an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' Johnson admitted to being unaware of the details of the bill but referred to a House proposal that emphasizes hardline immigration measures. He stressed the need to 'stem the flow.' Johnson further indicated that he, not Trump, would decide whether to bring the bill to the House floor if it passes the Senate. Nevertheless, in a sign of resistance to the Senate package, Johnson announced plans for the House to vote on a separate $17.6 billion military aid package for Israel. This enables House Republicans to demonstrate their support for Israel separately from the Senate deal.
Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, expressed confidence that House members, including Speaker Johnson, will have ample opportunity to scrutinize the bill's contents. Sinema emphasized the significance of the package's passage in the Senate and its subsequent journey to the House.
The border proposal, the result of months of negotiations, aims to gain control of an asylum system overwhelmed by record numbers of migrants arriving at the border. The bill seeks to overhaul the system with stricter and faster enforcement measures. If the number of illegal border crossings exceeds an average of 5,000 per day for five consecutive days, an automatic expulsion authority would trigger, sending migrants back to Mexico without allowing them to make an asylum claim. When the number surpasses 4,000, presidential administrations would have the option to use the expulsion authority.
The bill also allocates $18.5 billion to immigration enforcement, including funds to hire thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims and additional Border Patrol agents. A portion of these funds, around $1.4 billion, would aid shelters and services in cities across the U.S. struggling to cope with the influx of migrants in recent months.
Under the proposed legislation, migrants seeking asylum, which provides protection to those facing persecution in their home countries, would face a tougher and expedited process for evaluating their claims. Initial interviews, known as credible fear screenings, would have higher standards, and many individuals would receive these interviews within days of arriving at the border. Final decisions on asylum claims would be made within months rather than the current lengthy wait.
While the tougher asylum standards have raised concerns among some Democrats, particularly progressive and Hispanic lawmakers, many have reserved final judgment until they can review the bill's text, which has been tightly guarded in the Capitol.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed his willingness to support the bill if it makes its way to the House. He stressed the need for more common sense in Washington, advocating for bipartisan common ground amid a period of divided government.
While senators have finalized the border proposal, other parts of the package, including aid for U.S. allies, investments in defense manufacturing, and humanitarian assistance for those affected by conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, are still being negotiated by Senate appropriators. The urgency to pass this comprehensive bill highlights its importance for addressing critical national security and humanitarian concerns.
