President Biden on Tuesday aimed his frustration at former President Trump ahead of the expected collapse of a bipartisan border policy package that would also provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Speaking from the White House, Mr. Biden hailed the efforts of a bipartisan group of senators who forged the agreement on the $118 billion bill. He called it “the most fair, humane reforms in our immigration system in a long time and the toughest set of reforms to secure the border ever.”
“Now, all indications are this bill won’t even move forward to the Senate floor,” he said. “Why? A simple reason: Donald Trump.”
“Because Donald Trump thinks it’s bad for him politically, even though it helps the country. He’d rather weaponize the issue than actually solve it.”
The president pleaded with Republican lawmakers to pass the bill that would overhaul portions of the U.S. immigration system.
But not everyone on the political left is on board with the bill. After Mr. Biden’s speech, RAICES, an organization that provides legal services to refugees and immigrants, said the bill is anything but “fair and humane.”
“This is not an immigration bill that meets the needs of this generation, and it certainly fails to acknowledge the humanitarian considerations that are central to a compassionate and effective immigration system,” RAICES CEO Dolores K. Schroeder said in a statement.
“The creation of a fair and just immigration system should not be a bargaining chip in government funding negotiations. We refuse to allow a bipartisan assault on the humanity of our community members to continue in our names,” she said.
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The bill faces stiff opposition from House Republicans and difficulty attracting enough bipartisan support in the Senate.
Republican senators left a closed-door meeting Monday night saying the upper chamber wouldn’t have enough GOP votes to advance the bill.
The Senate is expected to take a test vote Wednesday that will require 60 votes to advance the legislation. It is not expected to pass.
Mr. Biden for months has pressed Congress to pass legislation to resolve the border crisis. But Republicans argue that the bill doesn’t do enough to deter illegal border crossing and Mr. Biden already has adequate authority to stop the historic level of border jumpers.
Separately, the House plans to vote Tuesday on a standalone bill to provide aid to Israel. Mr. Biden has threatened to veto the bill because he wants the broader package of border policy and aid for Ukraine.
“Instead of working in good faith to address the most pressing national security challenges, this bill is another cynical political maneuver,” the Office of Management and Budget said in the veto threat. “The security of Israel should be sacred, not a political game.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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