Office Of Republican Sen. Tillis Refutes Any Claim To A Bipartisan Immigration Deal Until The Biden Administration Resolves All Border-related Crises.
It is no longer news that the U.S. is currently rocked by increasing border issues. Especially with the rising cases of illegal immigrants spread throughout the country, and the increasing number at the border wanting to penetrate the country. While the Biden administration alongside members of the Democratic Party has tried to pull down barriers to immigration as well as seek means to ease migration. On the other hand, the Republicans seek to control border penetration as much as possible and also to put a stop -if possible- to illegal migration.
Recently, there have been rumors of a possible bipartisan agreement on immigration matters, hence concerned Republicans have come out to clear the air on the matter. They went as far as stating that there won't be any bipartisan support on immigration bills until border crises are resolved.
Until the Biden administration takes action to secure the border, the office of Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, discounted the likelihood of a bipartisan immigration agreement on Wednesday, claiming that there was "not much to negotiate" in the interim.
This statement was put forward after the supposed discussions between Tillis and Sen. Dick Durbin. Where the latter hoped there would be life and full consideration for bipartisan support for an immigration bill. Hence, his hopes seem dashed after Tillis released his statement.
While the two were traveling through Europe, conversations between Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Tillis had reportedly resumed regarding a potential immigration compromise.
He had voiced hope that a solution would be reached following the recent murders of more than 50 migrants in a tractor-trailer in Texas, much like how the recent shooting spree in Uvalde had resulted in a bipartisan gun-control agreement.
Durbin told reporters, "We've been talking the last two days about resurrecting that effort. And I believe that the discovery of 51 dead migrants in a tractor-trailer at the border is what I would refer to as a "Uvalde moment." I hope it increases interest in developing a bipartisan strategy to handle immigration.
But in response to a question from reporters, Tillis' office minimized the significance of earlier discussions. It said there wasn't much to discuss given the ongoing migrant situation at the southern border.
According to Tillis' office, "a group of senators previously held meetings that were completely centered on border security and preventing the exploitation of our nation's asylum laws." But there won't be anything to negotiate until the Biden-Harris administration begins to enforce immigration rules and eventually does something to resolve the catastrophe they brought about at the border.
According to his office, "leaders in Washington must act in the greatest interest of the American people and American workers."
Senators have been unable to reach a consensus on immigration for years. Last year, Democrats and the Biden administration unveiled a comprehensive reform plan that would have increased visa availability and granted mass amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, but it offered little in the way of border security to entice Republicans.
Even Republicans who had been willing to compromise opposed the legislation, especially in light of the developing migrant situation at the border.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, remarked in March of last year: "You've got to stop the bleeding before you can take care of the problem."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, stated, "I've voted for every comprehensive immigration plan that ever came out of the U.S. Senate." If you legalize one person before you've solved this problem, you're going to have a human tsunami, therefore it is difficult for me to sit down with Dick Durbin and negotiate any solution for the people who are already here.
Since then, the crisis has only gotten worse. More than 239,000 migrants were apprehended in May alone, setting a record that is predicted to grow in the coming months.
Democrats later moved forward with their attempts to add amnesty measures and other immigration items in a budget reconciliation framework after failing to secure any Republican support for that bill. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, withdrew his support, and the campaign was abandoned.
Additionally, it is still unknown whether a deal with or without a road to citizenship can win over Democrats and whether a deal with it can win over any Republican support. Any "amnesty" initiatives, according to Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, are a "non-starter" with his caucus.
Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, recently alarmed the right with remarks he reportedly made to Senate Democrats on the Senate floor, saying, "First firearms, now it's immigration."
Later, his office reported that the statement was just a joke. One not to be taken too seriously.
As such, the prospects of Immigration reform are slim this year, but, of course, we all are hoping for the best!