Senate negotiators revealed the long-anticipated plans for an agreement on border security between the US and Mexico, alongside assistance for Ukraine, on Sunday. The total funding would reach $118 billion, surpassing Biden’s initial proposal by $14 billion.
President Biden issued a statement on Sunday evening commending the bipartisan border agreement and calling on Congress to swiftly pass and enact the legislation. Biden voiced his wholehearted endorsement of the measure, stating that it represents the most rigorous and fair border policies in decades within a bipartisan national security agreement.
Biden stated that Senate and administration representatives worked tirelessly to reach an agreement, emphasizing their round-the-clock efforts. He mentioned that they were now awaiting a decision from House Republicans.
Republican Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut, and Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona led the extensive discussions over several months that led to the creation of the 370-page border measure.
The agreement abolishes the “catch and release” policy, granting the government authority to close the border to numerous migrants once their crossings surpass a specific threshold. It expedites the processing of asylum claims and elevates the screening criteria.
The legislation package encompasses supplementary border funding, support for Israel and Ukraine, and various other foreign policy endeavors. Despite Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pledging to conduct a floor vote on the measure this week, its prospects in the House remain uncertain due to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) previously dismissing the potential agreement as “dead on arrival.”
Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and conservative James Lankford (R-OK) were the negotiators behind the measure, with both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsing it.
During the Las Vegas event, Biden criticized Republican lawmakers, suggesting they missed a chance to bolster border security. He admitted to the shortage of immigration judges and border officers, asserting confidently that he has been diligently addressing the issue for years, despite contradicting evidence.
