In a recent development, former President Donald Trump has criticized the newly released Senate immigration bill, calling it “horrendous” and a “gift to Democrats.” The bill, which includes provisions for border security and foreign aid, has faced backlash from conservatives, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who believes it to be “even worse than expected” and “dead on arrival” in the lower chamber.
The Senate immigration bill, with a price tag of $118 billion, has been met with opposition primarily from Republican lawmakers. One contentious provision of the bill is the requirement for the border to be shut down only when 5,000 illegal immigrants cross the border per day. Additionally, critics argue that the bill allocates billions of dollars in spending to Ukraine and Israel.
The bill text introduces a new “border emergency authority” that allows for the turning away of individuals, which becomes mandatory when the average number of migrants encountered reaches 5,000 per day over a seven-day period. These powers can be utilized for up to 270 days in the first year of implementation, gradually decreasing before sunsetting in three years.
House Freedom Caucus members have strongly urged their conservative Senate colleagues to reject the border security compromise, claiming it does not go far enough to address the ongoing migrant crisis. Former Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry called the bill a “dumpster fire” and demanded its rejection.
Despite the criticism, Senator James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma and a sponsor of the bill, defended the legislation, stating that it would bring about a significant change in border policies. Lankford emphasized that the new authority would lead to the deportation of all individuals once the 5,000 threshold is reached, in contrast to the current practice of catching and releasing.
In response to Trump’s social media post criticizing the bill, Senator Lankford’s office did not immediately provide a comment. The Senate Border Bill is not expected to receive a vote in the House, according to House Majority Leader Scalise.
It is essential to note that this development occurs amidst continued debates surrounding immigration policies and border security in the United States. The issue has been a significant point of contention between Republicans and Democrats, with both sides proposing different approaches to address the situation.
