Senate Democrats and Republicans were “closer” to a deal Wednesday on strengthening southern border security, and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said he is optimistic the parties will reach an agreement.
A deal would end the logjam over a broader $110 billion national security package by pairing the immigration policies with aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.
“Everyone’s going to have to give something to get this done,” the New York Democrat told reporters. “No one can just get his or her own way.”
Details about the talks remain murky, though how migrants are detained and released after illegally entering the country has been a major subject of conversation. Biden administration officials, including Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security secretary, are involved.
The continued discussions came as Congress remains on holiday recess until next week and more than 60 House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, toured the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday to witness firsthand the record influx of illegal crossings.
Mr. Schumer took a swipe at Mr. Johnson, who’s not involved in the southern border security talks, for making the trip.
“It’s very nice that they have a trip to the border. But the only way to solve this is here, working in a bipartisan way with Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats, and House Democrats to get it done,” Mr. Schumer said. “I hope the speaker will realize that, if he wants to solve the problem on the border.”
Mr. Johnson placed the blame for the southern border crisis squarely on President Biden and administration policies that are more lax than those of his predecessor.
“The situation here and across the country is truly unconscionable. We would describe it as both heartbreaking and infuriating,” Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, told reporters. “Our communities are overrun. We have local resources that are being strapped. We have lethal drugs that are pouring into our country at record levels. And it’s in less than three years that President Biden took office that this has happened that we have over 7 million illegal encounters at the border.”
The Department of Justice is seeking Supreme Court intervention to dismantle razor wire installed by Texas to deter migrants and is preparing to sue the Lone Star state over a new law allowing state officials to arrest, charge and detain those who enter the country illegally rather than being forced to release them.
“Every state in America is now a border state, and we’ve seen that on vivid display today,” Mr. Johnson said.
It remains to be seen whether Mr. Johnson will put any subsequent southern border and foreign aid deal on the floor for a vote, given opposition from many of his members against more Ukraine funding.
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Schumer also traded barbs Wednesday over border security legislation that House Republicans passed last year known as H.R. 2. Senate Democrats and Mr. Biden rejected it as a nonstarter.
“When the House clings to H.R. 2 as the only solution… we’re not going to get a deal,” Mr. Schumer said.
Mr. Johnson responded, “H.R. 2 is the necessary ingredient.”
Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate hope bipartisan passage in their chamber would force Mr. Johnson’s hands.
“I think if the Senate gets something done in a bipartisan way, it will put enormous pressure on the House to get something done as well, and not just to let these hard-right people get up and … dictate how the whole country should work,” Mr. Schumer said.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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