U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Sunday that the Senate would make another attempt this week to pass a bipartisan border security bill, following a previous failure due to Republicans withdrawing support at former President Donald Trump’s urging.
“I hope Republicans and Democrats can work together to pass the bipartisan Border Act this coming week,” Schumer stated in a letter to senators.
The Border Act aims to reform U.S. asylum laws, hire thousands of border agents, and reduce fentanyl smuggling, among other measures, according to the Democratic leader.
However, leaders of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives have labeled the bill as politically motivated.
“Should it reach the House, the bill would be dead on arrival,” stated House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans.
The White House has expressed strong support for the legislation.
Schumer clarified that the previous legislation was tied to U.S. foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel, but this new bill would stand independently.
Since Democratic President Joe Biden took office in 2021, record numbers of migrants have been caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, making border security a key issue in the presidential campaign.
Trump, who is seeking to challenge Biden in the November 5 election, has influenced this issue.
In February, a bipartisan immigration bill stalled in the Senate after Trump advised Republicans not to support it, despite it containing several border-security measures they had previously sought.
“The former President made clear he would rather preserve the issue for his campaign than solve the issue in a bipartisan fashion.
“On cue, many of our Republican colleagues abruptly reversed course on their prior support, announcing their new-found opposition to the bipartisan proposal,” Schumer remarked.