Washington A group of moderate Democrats asked key Senate Republicans to abandon their party-line efforts on immigration and instead focus on finding a bipartisan solution, but they were turned down.
Despite their slim House majority and other barriers to enacting President Donald Trump’s agenda, the GOP’s will to go their own way on one of his main priorities is demonstrated by this choice. The topic of immigration is another one where Democrats are split, with a sizable portion of politicians in purple states and districts embracing more conservative positions.
The GOP won’t rely on Democrats for a deal to strengthen immigration enforcement, according to Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has negotiated previous immigration agreements.
“No, on border security,” Graham told NBC News, indicating that the GOP will instead circumvent a filibuster and essentially exclude Democrats by using the Senate’s complicated budget procedure.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., spearheaded the push in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on Wednesday. Twelve other Democrats, the majority of whom were from states with close political races, signed the letter.
We are aware that, without consulting Democrats, Senate Republicans have talked about advancing border security budget proposals through the budget reconciliation process. Although you have that right, the Democrats wrote that by cooperating across party lines, we can reach the best result for the American people. We are still prepared to collaborate with you in good faith to draft legislation that can garner 60 Senate votes and bipartisan support.
When questioned about the letter and whether Republicans would accept the overture, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., burst out laughing.
During an interview, Johnson stated, “We will disregard that letter.”
We won’t hold out for them. He said that they had the option to secure the border if they so desired. They don’t want that.
The letter, which was signed by a similar group of Democrats who voted to support Republicans in passing the Laken Riley Act this week, was not immediately answered by Thune’s office. The bill, which is on its way to Trump’s desk, strengthens the existing legislation to require undocumented immigrants who are accused or found guilty of nonviolent offenses like shoplifting and theft to be detained in federal custody.
Because they feel that the stances of progressives and Congressional Hispanic Caucus leaders are out of step with their constituents, Democrats in battleground states and districts are splitting from the majority of their party over immigration. In the 2024 election, Democrats lost Latino men to Trump and were beaten up on immigration.
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who brokered a bipartisan immigration agreement in 2018 to provide $25 billion for a border wall and to safeguard Dreamers—those who were brought to the country illegally as children—is another skeptic of the Democratic request. Republicans were urged by Trump’s White House to revoke that deal.
Some of us would like to collaborate on immigration, but I’m not sure what [Kelly] means when she says that we shouldn’t cooperate on reconciliation. Rounds stated on Thursday, “I’m not sure how that fits in.” Will we postpone financing the border’s needs until we can adopt a bipartisan strategy? Most likely, the answer is no. We do expect to use reconciliation to strengthen our defense, both fully and at the border.
According to Rounds, Republicans are fully committed to strengthening federal border enforcement through the 50-vote budget procedure.
“We do know that we can acquire resources under reconciliation for border defense, and I would anticipate that we’ll continue to do so,” he said.
Kelly responded, “Well, let’s see what they can do in reconciliation,” when asked why Republicans had rejected his offer. People in the House are struggling to determine what they may and cannot enter, as you are aware.
He went on to say that a bipartisan agreement would not be constrained by the reconciliation process’s restrictions, which prohibit changing policy.
The GOP drive hasn’t started yet because the party is still debating whether to split Trump’s expansive agenda into two bills or move it all into one large package. The tiny Republican majority in the House worries many because they regard it as a barrier.
Graham claimed that as Trump considers a mass deportation program and launches a series of executive orders, Republicans want to give him $100 billion to crack down on illegal immigration.
Graham stated that Trump will not be able to execute his objectives if Congress does not provide the necessary funds in a timely manner.
Graham remarked, “Well, I think you hit a wall pretty quickly.” I’m worried about the new money because you’ll need it.