According to a report, a bipartisan bill to enhance security on the border is currently being discussed in secret by a small group of senators.
President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that securing the border is his top priority. He has already urged Senate Republicans to take immediate action in passing a comprehensive border package in the coming year.
GOP senators made a swift commitment to pass the package, opting to utilize the budget reconciliation process for its speedy completion.
According to Axios, a bipartisan group of senators, which includes at least two Democrats from states that voted for Trump, has been engaged in discussions regarding a border bill that could garner the required 60 votes for passage.
According to Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, the conversations were described as “very” serious and the details were kept “very secret,” as reported by Axios.
According to Mullin, Trump expressed his support for one reconciliation package as long as the border issue could be addressed separately, without the need for reconciliation.
Democratic senator Mark Kelly of Arizona expressed his support for bipartisan efforts in addressing both border security and immigration reform. In an interview, he stated, “If there’s willingness to work in a bipartisan way to do some stuff, not only on border security, but on immigration reform, I think it would be great.” Kelly’s statement highlights the importance of collaboration and cooperation across party lines in tackling these pressing issues.
Michigan Senator Gary Peters expressed his commitment to actively participating in bipartisan border talks, stating that Democrats would be fully engaged in these efforts. Richard Blumenthal, a senator from Connecticut, also expressed his desire to be a part of the conversations.
Following the unsuccessful bipartisan border bill in May this year, talks have been initiated. The bill, aimed at tightening the restrictions on migrants seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border, was blocked by Republicans.
In May, the legislation faced another setback when it failed to pass a procedural vote. A total of 42 Democrats and one Republican voted in favor of considering the bill, while six Democrats, one independent, and 42 Republicans voted against it.
In February, the bill, which had been negotiated by a group of senators from both parties, faced opposition from most Republicans. This opposition was primarily due to its connection with a foreign aid package that included assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies.
If it had been approved, the measure would have granted the US president the power to close down the asylum system in the event that unauthorized border crossings reached a specific monthly limit.
The proposed legislation aimed to strengthen the criteria for asylum-seekers and grant federal authorities the authority to promptly deport individuals who did not meet the necessary qualifications.