Senate Rejects Border Security Bill Despite Biden’s Push
The United States Senate has rejected the border security bill proposed by President Joe Biden’s administration for the second time, failing to overcome Republican blockades in the legislative body.
The legislation received 50 votes against and 43 votes in favor, far fewer than the 60 needed for approval.
Prior to the vote, senior administration officials asserted that this was the “strictest and fairest border agreement in decades.” The proposed agreement included changes to asylum policy, additional resources for immigration agencies, and granting the president authority to close the border when deemed “overwhelmed.”
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Republican leaders spent much of the week denouncing the vote as a political maneuver. “We are nearing the end of President Biden’s term, and the American people’s patience with his inability to secure the southern border is wearing thin,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday.
Despite Biden’s appeals, rejection persists
House Speaker Mike Johnson and a group of Republicans stated earlier in the week that “if the bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival.”
The bill outlines the hiring of 1,500 Border Patrol agents and 4,300 asylum officers to “speed up” applications and reach final decisions swiftly.
The terms of this bill had been negotiated by members of both parties “for months,” according to officials. Although no new executive actions were announced prior to the Senate vote, they assured that “we are always evaluating policy options” to reduce irregular flows.
The previous legislation was tied to U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel, but this bill was presented independently.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Wednesday that “the president’s position on immigrants is clear,” concluding that Americans want “a secure border and legal immigration opportunities for those seeking to come to the United States.”
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