The Senate is expected to vote on a bipartisan border security measure, marking the second time this year that the bill will face a vote. The Republicans blocked the bill earlier due to former President Donald Trump’s opposition. Democrats are hoping to use the vote to shift public opinion as polls have shown criticism of President Biden’s handling of immigration. The bill’s failure is expected, but Democrats are trying to show which lawmakers are serious about fixing the border versus those who are just talking about it. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called out lawmakers who vote against the measure, saying they forfeit their right to discuss the issue.
After months of negotiations, a compromise was reached in February between Republicans and Democrats on a comprehensive border security policy overhaul. This compromise would give the president powers to restrict unlawful border crossings and tighten asylum rules. However, Trump urged Republicans to vote against the bill, leading it to fall short of the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate. Despite this, Congress has approved more aid to Ukraine, which was tied to Republican support for the border security bill. President Biden has urged Republican leaders to stop playing politics and act quickly to pass the bipartisan legislation.
The compromise was negotiated by Senators from both parties, including Sen. James Lankford, a Republican from Oklahoma, Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent from Arizona. Lankford, who initially supported the bill in February, has now stated that he will not support it, calling it a “prop.” Democrats like Sen. Richard Blumenthal argue that the bill is more than just a messaging vote and will have tangible results in border security. However, there is criticism within the Democratic party as well, with Sen. Cory Booker stating that he will not vote for the bill due to provisions that conflict with shared American values.
As Democrats and Republicans debate the border security issue, the focus has shifted to the 2024 election. Republicans have made border security a central theme in their platform as they challenge the Biden administration’s approach to immigration. Democratic Senator Brian Schatz expressed anger at Republican colleagues who have shifted their stance on the bill due to Trump’s influence. The vote on the border security measure is expected to highlight the partisan divisions on Capitol Hill as both parties seek to gain an advantage heading into the November election. The outcome of the vote will shed light on which lawmakers are truly dedicated to addressing the border crisis and which are playing politics with the issue.
