Speaker Johnson: ‘Even Worse Than We Expected’ | Border Security Deal Won’t Pass House

Paresh Jadhav

11 months ago

House Speaker Johnson has threatened to derail any bipartisan Senate agreement reached on border security and national security supplemental spending legislation that fails to pass the House. His rationale: It won’t pass.

Johnson is an outspoken right-winger who has engaged in every manifestation of right-wing ideology imaginable – from supporting election lies to opposing equal rights – which puts him at odds with many powerful figures within his party.

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Even Worse Than We Expected

After months of negotiations, bipartisan senators finally came to an agreement on border security measures that could form the basis of a larger national security bill. It would grant President Donald Trump broad new powers to limit illegal migrant crossings at the southern border while providing aid for key US allies like Ukraine and Israel.

This legislation provides funding to end “catch and release” practices, raise standards for asylum screenings, and speed up case processing times. Additionally, some Democratic priorities are included such as expanding family-based visas or permitting work visas for migrants facing removal proceedings.

Speaker Johnson has pledged to defeat it in the House, where it may face stiff resistance from hardline Republicans who favor stricter immigration policy. If Senate legislation comes his chamber it would be “dead on arrival”, imperiling efforts for passing a national security supplemental that includes border accord.

bipartisan plan

Johnson predicted in a letter sent out Friday that Senate Republican attempts at passing a national security package that combines border enforcement measures with Ukraine aid could fail as soon as they enter the House. Johnson blamed pressure exerted by former President Donald Trump, who has publicly encouraged Republican legislators to scrap this bipartisan plan.

The bill includes $20 billion for border security, including giving the government temporary authority to expel migrants if their daily average exceeds a threshold, ending “catch and release,” raising standards for asylum screenings, speeding up processing claims faster, as well as increasing spending for Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific allies.

Johnson remains committed to his opposition of the Senate deal, which he considers a political gift for Democrats ahead of the 2024 presidential election. He pledged to pursue articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas – one of the key negotiators – as soon as it is introduced and hold two hearings next week on it.

A Warning

Johnson’s letter serves as a warning of the political perils associated with advancing any bipartisan Senate agreement through House passage, signaling its difficulty on its way through.

This proposal, tied to a $118 billion national security supplemental – including aid for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies – would give DHS emergency authority to close the border if daily average migrant crossings surpass certain thresholds; stop “catch and release” practices at borders; speed up asylum screening processes.

This proposal departs significantly from what Republican negotiators had envisioned and is unlikely to gain Democratic backing, rendering it nonstarter for Johnson as House scheduler and likely rallying on-the-fence GOP lawmakers against it. Furthermore, it risks exacerbating intraparty divisions which have hindered negotiations for funding packages.

5,000 migrants per day

As negotiations neared a deal on border security provisions for a national security supplemental bill aimed at supporting Ukraine and Israel, some Republicans began to pull away. They asserted that President Biden already has sufficient resources available to him for border security matters and that any legislation to address them would only serve to further boost Democrats in an election year.

House Republican leaders, led by Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana, have voiced opposition to the Senate deal. On NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, Johnson stated that in its place will be a vote next week on an Israel aid bill without border provisions or Ukraine funding.

Senate Republicans may face additional pressure to oppose this proposal from Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford’s lead GOP negotiator who has expressed doubt over linking aid packages and border security measures, claiming a deal would allow 5,000 migrants per day illegally across. This move puts further strain on Senate Republicans to reject it as well as inaccurate GOP talking points that suggest such a border deal will allow illegal migration.