In exchange for aid, Conservative Republicans adamantly opposed and implemented additional border security resources on Monday.
A unified statement from House Republican leadership, which includes House Speaker [ppp[1]], House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip [ppp[2]], and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, declared the bill as “DOA.”
Expressing discontent with the process, Mr Johnson criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for excluding House Republicans from the discussions.
The negotiated agreement, facilitated by Independent Senator [ppp[3]] of Arizona, Republican James Lankford of Oklahoma, and Democrat [ppp[4]] of Connecticut, was unveiled on Sunday evening. This legislation mandates the Department of Homeland Security to close the US-Mexico border when an average of 5,000 migrants cross daily for a week.
Not limited to Republicans, opposition to the proposed immigration reform also emerged from Representative Delia Ramirez, a progressive Democrat from Chicago, Illinois, who believes the bill would regress the US immigration policy by a century.
Senator Alex Padilla of California raised concerns about the absence of Latino Democrats in the decision-making process, emphasizing the need for diverse perspectives.
The bill entails allocating $650 million for a border wall, ending the “catch and release” policy where migrants are released into the US pending court dates, and streamlining the asylum procedure.
However, former President Donald Trump, expected to be the Republican presidential nominee, voiced his disapproval of the bill, labeling it as a ploy to shift blame to Republicans for border issues caused by Democrats.
Senator [ppp[5]] objected to the provision granting Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas extensive authority in asylum decisions outside the standard immigration court proceedings.
Critiquing Mr Johnson’s opposition, Mr Murphy suggested it stemmed from apprehension about the bill’s implications.
Republicans criticized the legislation for its perceived failure to completely halt illegal immigration across the southern border, leading to swift and firm opposition.
President Joe Biden lauded the bill as the “toughest and fairest” in decades, urging Congress to pass it promptly.
Despite Senator McConnell’s endorsement, numerous Republicans, including Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, expressed strong opposition to the bill, prompting disappointment among some members.
Democrats condemned Republican resistance, advocating for a thorough debate on the bill’s merits.
Progressive members of the House, including Representative [ppp[6]] and Representative [ppp[7]], rejected the bill, diverging from the White House’s stance.
Representative [ppp[8]], another progressive Democrat, criticized the bill for its flawed process and policies, asserting that it could exacerbate the existing border crisis.
To bypass a filibuster, the legislation must secure a 60-vote threshold, a challenge that appeared increasingly daunting as discussions unfolded.
Senator Deb Fischer initially mentioned ongoing efforts to navigate the bill, only to later release a statement through her X account opposing it.