Republicans and Conservative Groups Push for Sweeping Changes
Republicans in the House, along with conservative groups, are demanding the inclusion of H.R. 2, the House signature legislation, to address the ongoing border crisis. H.R. 2 includes measures to ramp up border security, restart border wall construction, reinstate the Remain-in-Mexico policy, and limit the use of asylum and humanitarian parole, among other significant changes.
Slimmer Senate Proposal Rejected by White House and Democrats
A Senate working group proposed a slimmer version of the legislation, incorporating some elements from H.R. 2. However, the White House and Senate Democrats rejected this proposal. In response, the Biden administration expressed openness to certain measures such as a Title 42-type expulsion authority, expanded expedited removal, and broadening immigration detention. While these proposals were met with optimism by some Senate Republicans, immigration activists condemned them.
Conservatives Argue Current Measures Fall Short
Conservatives, who are part of a coalition that previously warned Congress about the border crisis, assert that the current proposals do not go far enough to address the historic highs in migrant encounters. Kevin Roberts, President of Heritage Action, stated that “years of backroom deals and weakness from Congress have given us the worst illegal immigration crisis in American history.” He emphasized the need for comprehensive measures like H.R. 2 to secure the border, saying that “anything less would be a defeat for the American people and the rule of law.”
Former Officials Call for Stronger Action
Lora Ries, Director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, dismissed the Biden administration’s claims of increased deportations and detentions, stating that they had ignored current laws for three years. Tom Homan, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), echoed this sentiment, calling the policies in H.R. 2 a “no-brainer” given their success under the previous administration. Homan emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that negotiating is no longer acceptable when the national security threat is high.
Conservatives Insist on Passing H.R. 2
Chris Chmielenski, President of the Immigration Accountability Project, warned that any Republican who does not support the passage of H.R. 2 will be seen as owning the ongoing crisis. He argued that passing H.R. 2 is the only way to send a clear message to the world that the U.S. border is closed. However, with lawmakers scheduled to leave Washington for the holiday break, it remains uncertain if a deal will be reached before then. Meanwhile, encounters at the southern border breached the 10,000 mark in a single day this week, according to sources confirmed by Fox News.
