'A disqualifying betrayal': House Republicans vow to kill the Senate's so-called border bill

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to hold the first vote on his $118 billion "Emergency National Security" bill Wednesday. However, following the bill's long-awaited reveal Sunday, House Republicans made clear that Schumer's efforts will be in vain.

According to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), the bill will be "dead on arrival."

What's the background?

Blaze News previously detailed how the 370-page bill, which has the blessing of Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), would provide $60.06 billion in support for Ukraine in its war with Russia; $14.1 billion in security assistance to Israel; $10 billion in humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Ukraine; and $20.23 billion for American border security.

McConnell claimed in a statement Sunday that the bill "begins with direct and immediate solutions to the crisis at our southern border."

A closed border is evidently not among the solutions. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) admitted the "border never closes" under the proposed scheme.

Coons suggested that rather than preventing thousands of illegal aliens from entering the U.S. daily, the bill would ensure that those unaccompanied minors who have jumped the border get free immigration lawyers; that all illegal aliens are afforded the right to legal representation; and that asylum-seekers will not be detained while their claims are processed.

The bill would also fund an increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity from 34,000 to 50,00; fast-track asylum cases; raise the standard for illegal aliens to qualify to apply to asylum; and grant the government the power it already has to secure the border if there is a one-week daily average of 5,000 illegal entries or 8,500 illegal entries in a single day. reported Newsweek.

Dead on arrival

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in an X post Sunday evening, "I've seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected, and won't come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created."

"As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation, 'the border never closes,'" continued Johnson. "If this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival."

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) vowed that the bill would not get a vote in the House, underscoring the legislation would serve only to exacerbate the crisis at the border.

"Here's what the people pushing this 'deal' aren't telling you: It accepts 5,000 illegal immigrants a day and gives automatic work permits to asylum recipients — a magnet for more illegal immigration," said Scalise.

According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the bill would indeed "expedite protection and work authorization" for illegal aliens "with legitimate claims."

Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs (R) piled on hours later, writing, "The Senate border bill is the worst idea on border 'security' — EVER.' Frankly, it makes matters worse than they already are. It is a disaster. Hard to believe, but this is even more terrible than the old Gang of Eight legislation."

Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) wrote, "The Senate AMNESTY bill erases our borders. Every Senator took an oath to uphold our laws, including our border security & immigration laws, inluding our border security & immigration laws. ... This is AMERICA LAST!"

According to House GOP conference chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), the bill is an "absolute non-starter."

"This Joe Biden/Chuck Schumer Open Border Bill is an absolute non-starter and will further incentivize thousands of illegals to pour in across our borders daily," said Stefanik. "House Republicans have already passed HR2 - the Secure Our Border Act, which would actually secure the border and return to the effective Trump policies with the most secure border in our nation’s history."

Senate opposition

Senate Republicans already critical of the bill reiterated their opposition after the text of the bill was revealed to the public.

"I can understand why Chris Murphy supports it," wrote Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio). "I cannot imagine why any Republican supports this atrocious proposal."

"Now that the text of the bill has been released, it appears even worse than we feared," said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.).

Johnson suggested Sunday that the bill serves to give Democratic lawmakers in Washington, D.C., "cover" now that the border crisis has become an issue for blue cities such as Chicago and New York City. Johnson noted further that President Joe Biden already has the authority and ability to stem the flood of illegal aliens into the country, making this legislation largely unnecessary.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) dismissed the legislation, calling it the "Border Capitulation Bill."

Lee suggested that the bill had much to offer in the way of "protecting aliens and their personal information [but] nothing protecting Americans."

"Senate GOP leadership screwed this up — and screwed us. Even while refusing to let us see the bill they claimed to be negotiating on our behalf — for MONTHS — they were never in doubt, insisting we’d be dumb and even unpatriotic NOT to support it," wrote Lee. "This is a disqualifying betrayal."

Sen. Eric Schmitt (Mo.) said, "There you have it: Dead on arrival in the House. This bill is a disaster. Yet Schumer is trying to jam the Senate."

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford (R), who took the lead in brokering the deal, has attempted to defend the bill, claiming parts of it have been misunderstood or misrepresented.

Lankford stressed in a statement that "this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to close our open border and give future administrations the effective tools they need to stop the border chaos and protect our nation."

Lankford was censured in advance for allegedly "playing fast and loose with Democrats on our border policy" and helping Democrats advance legislation that authorizes "several thousand people to invade our borders."

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