Bipartisan Senators Negotiating Asylum Policy to Curtail Migrant Crossings
A bipartisan contingent of senators is laboring beyond the normal timeframe to facilitate a compromise on asylum policy adjustments. The goal is to reduce the influx of migrants at the southern border; this initiative is seen as a significant opportunity to make a breakthrough on one of the most stubborn issues Congress is currently facing.
Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) are in the process of negotiating a solution to streamline the processing of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. They are looking to address the rising numbers of illegal border crossings, which have reached record levels in recent years. The proposal aims to be part of a larger national security funding plan requested by President Biden. This plan includes financial assistance to Israel and Ukraine as well as border security funds. However, Senate Republicans have attached significant asylum restriction measures as a condition for this funding.
The bipartisan group of senators convened on Wednesday to outline the potential elements of the agreement and plan to continue negotiations over the weekend, working closely alongside their staff members. It is unclear if the Republican-led House of Representatives will consider and pass a bipartisan border proposal that is less demanding than a bill it approved earlier this year.
In an interview, Kyrsten Sinema pointed out that the urgent need to address the “porous border” and what she described as “loopholes” in U.S. immigration law, which have been exploited by those smuggling migrants into the country, forms the basis for the negotiations. “There’s growing concern, from folks on both sides of the aisle, that we have to act now, as a national security measure, to protect our border and ensure the safe passage of migrants into our country for those who do qualify for asylum,” Sinema said.
During the fiscal year 2023, Border Patrol processed more than two million migrants who crossed into the U.S. illegally, marking only the second time this threshold has been surpassed. The overwhelming migration influx has strained federal and local resources and has become a political challenge for President Biden.
Numerous attempts at overhauling the U.S. immigration system have faltered due to partisan gridlock. Given the political landscape, reaching a deal on some immigration issues is rare. However, there are some factors contributing to the current limited openness to compromise at this time.
Both the Biden administration and members of Congress from both parties are seeking to pass more military aid for Ukraine. At the same time, they have linked it to changes in U.S. border policy. There is also pressure on the White House to curb the migrant flow into the U.S., and some administration officials believe the asylum system is in need of reform.
Any immigration deal reached by the Senate would likely face criticism from various quarters, including immigration hardliners and progressive groups. Ultraconservatives might find a compromise bill backed by Democrats inadequate, while progressives could disapprove of restrictions on asylum and the sped-up deportation process. Even within Democratic ranks, a deal that neglects the legalization of undocumented immigrants may garner criticism.
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