The unveiling of the long-anticipated bipartisan border agreement triggered swift opposition from hardline conservatives and allies of former President Trump.
Within hours, critics labeled it an “amnesty bill,” accused it of erasing borders, and expressed dissatisfaction with the included funding for Ukraine. The 370-page package faced intense backlash, being characterized as a “complete sell-out,” “awful,” and “totally unacceptable.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) took to X, formerly Twitter, to declare unequivocally that the Senate Border Bill would not receive a vote in the House.
Border Deal Faces Immediate Opposition (Credits: The Hill)
He criticized the deal for accepting 5,000 illegal immigrants a day and providing automatic work permits to asylum recipients, which he deemed a magnet for increased illegal immigration.
Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) also condemned the bill, calling it an “absolute non-starter” that would incentivize more illegal border crossings.
The $118 billion bill encompassed a $20 billion border component, alongside allocations for Israel, Ukraine, and other foreign policy priorities.
Specific provisions in the border deal aimed to elevate standards for asylum screening, expedite claims processing, end “catch and release,” and grant the administration new authority to close the border under certain conditions.
Although the text of the border deal had not been released before Sunday, former President Trump had expressed his opposition to any significant border security legislation that could be perceived as a win for President Biden ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Trump’s allies swiftly criticized the bill, with Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) asserting that it seemed drafted in Kiev, emphasizing concerns about prioritizing foreign wars over domestic interests.
Conservative Senate Republicans joined the chorus of criticism, with Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) calling it an “open-borders bill.”
Senator Martha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) emphasized her refusal to make illegal immigration legal and called for a vote on the Secure the Border Act instead. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) demanded more time to review the 370-page bill, urging senators to reject voting on it without sufficient consideration.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a staunch Trump supporter, expressed an unwavering “NO” to the bill, condemning it for allegedly destroying American sovereignty and weakening immigration laws.
Meanwhile, Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.), one of the negotiators, praised the border deal as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to address border chaos and protect the nation.
The fierce opposition from hardline conservatives and Trump allies sets the stage for a contentious debate over the border agreement as it progresses through Congress.
The criticism revolves around concerns about immigration policies, perceived concessions, and the prioritization of foreign aid in the legislation.
