Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border enforcement bill for a second time, voting down legislation initially meant to curb migrant surges across the US-Mexico border, but abandoned after right-wing backlash encouraged by former President Donald J. Trump. The vote was a political maneuver by Senator Schumer to highlight differences between Democrats and Republicans on immigration ahead of the election. The bill failed to advance by falling short of the 60 votes needed, with some Democrats viewing it as extreme and most Republicans deeming it too lenient.
The bill aimed to close the border to migrants when numbers exceeded manageable levels, allowing the President to unilaterally seal it. It also included provisions expanding detentions, deportations, funding for Border Patrol agents, and new technology for drug interdiction. Schumer expressed disappointment at the rejection, while Democrats planned to use Republican opposition to neutralize criticism of the Biden administration’s border handling. The issue of migrants crossing the southern border has been at record highs during the Biden administration.
Senate majority leader McConnell criticized Biden’s border policies and advocated for executive action, dismissing the legislation as a distraction. Republicans initially sought a border enforcement bill as a condition for aid to Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, leading to negotiations between bipartisan senators and the Biden administration. A compromise was reached in February endorsed by the union representing Border Patrol agents, but was later rejected by Speaker Johnson as not conservative enough.
Trump intervened in favor of killing the bipartisan border bill, taking credit for its defeat and demanding the passage of a more restrictive Republican bill reinstating Trump-era immigration policies. Republican senator Lankford, who negotiated the bipartisan bill, voted against it on Thursday, accusing Schumer of political games. The legislation failed to advance with only one Republican and four Democrats, along with two independents, voting in favor. Senator Sinema criticized both parties for prioritizing political gains over addressing the issue.
Democrats had promoted the bipartisan bill’s provisions, including measures to counter fentanyl trafficking by increasing funding for the DEA and implementing new detection technology. Senator Cortez Masto emphasized the need for additional agents and reinforcements as per Border Patrol agents’ requests. Despite the bipartisan efforts, the bill was rejected, leaving both parties at odds over immigration policies and the handling of the border crisis.
