The Senate Appropriations Committee revealed the emergency national security bill on Sunday afternoon with a $118.3 billion topline. President Biden said that this agreement is necessary to make the US safer and secure the border from illegal immigration. However, the leading Republicans in the House say they won’t vote for it.
“Let me be clear: The Senate Border Bill will NOT receive a vote in the House,” said Majority Leader of the House of Representatives Steve Scalise. “Here’s what the people pushing this ‘deal’ aren’t telling you: It accepts 5,000 illegal immigrants a day and gives automatic work permits to asylum recipients—a magnet for more illegal immigration.”
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) aligned with Scalise, calling the bill an ‘Open Border Bill’ that will encourage immigrants to come to America.
“This Joe Biden/Chuck Schumer Open Border Bill is an absolute non-starter and will further incentivize thousands of illegals to pour in across our borders daily,” Stefanik wrote. “House Republicans have already passed HR2 – the Secure Our Border Act, which would actually secure the border and return to the effective Trump policies with the most secure border in our nation’s history.”
Progressives are not happy with the bill either. “For migrants who are able to seek asylum, they would now be subject to unrealistic standards and timelines under which to present their asylum claims, forcing too many people back to certain death, discrimination, or other harm,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington).
Biden: Toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades
The US immigration system, which President Joe Biden calls “broken,” is currently letting in 10,000 migrants daily into America. The Southern border has seen a record-breaking number of more than 2.4 million people cross over.
“Now we’ve reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it,” said Biden in the National Security Agreement statement. Two months ago, members of his administration started to work alongside a bipartisan group of Senators to address the country’s immigration problem.
“It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation.” The National Security Agreement will provide the Executive Office for Immigration Review with $440,000,000 that will be used for Immigration Judge Teams, which includes appropriate attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, court administrators, and other support staff, and for representation for certain incompetent adults.
“It will make our asylum process fairer and more efficient while protecting the most vulnerable. It will expedite work permits so that those who are here and qualify can get to work more quickly. It will create more opportunities for families to come together – through short-term visits as well as increased permanent lawful pathways. It ensures the most vulnerable, unaccompanied young children, have paid legal representation,” said Biden.
“And it will provide the resources I have repeatedly requested to secure the border by adding border patrol agents, immigration judges, asylum officers, and cutting-edge inspection machines to help detect and stop the flow of fentanyl.”
The bill would give the Executive Branch the authority to shut down the border when the situation there becomes overwhelmed.
“While this agreement doesn’t address everything I would have wanted, these reforms are essential for making our border more orderly, secure, fair, and humane,” said Biden in the National Security Agreement statement.
Foreign Aid
The National Security Agreement also addresses two other key US priorities: Ukraine and the Israel.
What does $118.3 billion bill include?
- $14 billion for Israel
- $60 billion for Ukraine
- $10 billion in humanitarian aid
- Close to $5 billion for Indo-Pacific including Taiwan
- More than $20 billion in new border funding.
Although the bill requires passage through the House of Representatives to become law, it faces strong opposition from House Republicans. Many GOP leaders dismiss it as “dead on arrival,” citing concerns that the National Security Agreement does not adequately address immigration policies.
“But I want to be clear about something: If you believe, as I do, that we must secure the border now, doing nothing is not an option,” said Biden.
Biden urged House Republicans to prioritize solving America’s immigration challenges over partisan politics. “I’ve made my decision. I’m ready to solve the problem. I’m ready to secure the border. And so are the American people,” Biden affirmed.
