Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has urged Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to consider the bipartisan deal on border security introduced by Senate negotiators.
Schumer addressed Johnson on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and encouraged him to prioritize the border issue and not be swayed by the far-right members of his caucus.
Despite Johnson’s expressed opposition to the proposed deal, Schumer emphasized the importance of bipartisanship in addressing border concerns.
Schumer and Johnson (Credits: The Hill)
In his message to Johnson, Schumer acknowledged the challenges posed by the far-right faction within the Republican Party.
He urged Johnson not to let the influence of extreme members dictate the course of action on border security. Schumer emphasized the need for a bipartisan solution, citing the 30 hard-right individuals in the House whom he described as extremists.
He pressed Johnson to do the right thing, emphasizing the importance of fixing border issues through a collaborative effort.
The bipartisan negotiations on border security, led by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), have been ongoing for months.
The proposed deal includes measures to enhance asylum screening standards, expedite claims processing, close loopholes allowing parole or “catch and release,” and grant new authority to close the border after a specified number of crossings.
In addition to addressing border concerns, the $118 billion national security supplemental includes allocations for Ukraine, Israel, and aid to Indo-Pacific allies.
Schumer continued to press Johnson to take action on the border, pointing out the inconsistency of criticizing the handling of the border while not actively working towards a solution.
He urged Johnson not to engage in political posturing but to address the chaos at the border effectively. Schumer expressed hope that the bipartisan agreement would pass the Senate and suggested that, once approved in the Senate, there would be significant pressure for its passage in the House.
Johnson, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed deal, labeling it even worse than expected and claiming it wouldn’t resolve the border challenges created by President Biden.
He argued that, according to the lead Democratic negotiator, “the border never closes” under the proposed legislation. Johnson concluded by stating that if the bill reached the House, it would be “dead on arrival.” The Hill has reached out to Johnson’s office for further comment.
