No Deal: Why Congress Is Toxic to Border Legislation | WSJ

Summary

The video script discusses the failure of a bipartisan border policy and foreign aid bill due to deep political divisions within the Republican party, particularly over immigration. Despite record illegal crossings and public support for a path to citizenship, compromise remains elusive. The script highlights past failures in immigration legislation and the current political dynamics, including the influence of Donald Trump's stance on border security and the contentious issue of Ukraine aid.

Takeaways

• 📜 The 370-page bipartisan bill on border policy and foreign aid was released but faced immediate rejection, highlighting the difficulty in achieving consensus on immigration issues.
• 🔄 Republicans previously demanded legislation to curb the influx of asylum seekers at the southern US border but rejected a bipartisan bill when it was presented, indicating a shift in political stance.
• 🚫 A supplemental funding proposal with immigration provisions was deemed insufficient as it was not a comprehensive border security bill, reflecting the complexity of addressing the issue.
• 🔍 Immigration has been a divisive issue in American politics for decades, with record numbers of illegal crossings at the southern border, stirring strong emotions and differing opinions.
• 👥 Despite majorities favoring a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and increased border security, finding a compromise has remained elusive.
• 🤝 Past attempts at bipartisan immigration reform, including those backed by President George W. Bush in 2007, have failed, demonstrating the issue's political volatility.
• 🏛 The 2024 Senate Bill focused on border security rather than broader immigration reform, a departure from previous efforts, and was linked to Ukraine aid as a package deal.
• 🤝 The linking of Ukraine aid to a solution for the migrant influx was an attempt to unify the GOP, but it also made the bill more contentious and politically charged.
• 📉 The bill's failure in the Senate, even with initial GOP support, shows the influence of divisive figures like Donald Trump, who opposed any agreement on the bill.
• 🗳️ The issue of immigration is a significant weakness for President Biden's re-election campaign and is a top concern for voters, especially independent voters.
• 🔄 The GOP's impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandra Mayorkas, seen as largely symbolic, reflects the desperation and political maneuvering around immigration and border security.

Q & A

What was the outcome of the 370-page bill on border policy and foreign aid after it was released?

The bill was rejected and deemed dead within 48 hours of its release.

Why did Republicans initially demand legislation to stop the influx of migrants seeking asylum at the US southern border?

The Republicans were concerned about the record number of illegal crossings, which hit almost 250,000 in December.

What was the public's stance on the issue of undocumented immigrants and border security?

Large majorities of the American people favor some sort of path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants as well as increasing the security of the border.

Why did the bipartisan bill backed by President George W. Bush in 2007 fail in the Senate?

The bill failed due to the divisive nature of immigration issues in American politics, which has made finding compromise elusive for decades.

What was the major difference in the 2024 Senate Bill compared to previous immigration reform efforts?

The 2024 Senate Bill took a more limited approach, focusing primarily on securing the border, as the GOP would not pass new aid for Ukraine unless the deal included a solution for the influx of migrants at the southern US border.

What was the political strategy behind linking Ukraine aid to a solution for the southern US border influx of migrants?

The strategy was to pivot from an internally divisive foreign aid issue to an issue that was seen as unifying the Republican party, which was the need to secure the border.

Why did some Republicans abandon their support for the National Security and Border package even after it reached the Senate floor?

Some Republicans abandoned their support due to political reasons, particularly because Donald Trump, whose signature issue is immigration, came out against the bill and campaigned against any agreement on it.

What was the final outcome of the Ukraine Aid package in the Senate, and what was its fate?

The Senate passed a $95.3 billion Aid package for Ukraine and Israel, but its fate remains uncertain as the Republican House was opposed to it.

What was the significance of the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandra Mayorkas by the GOP in the House?

The impeachment was largely symbolic and was expected to hit an impasse in the Democrat-controlled Senate. It was seen as a response to perceived policy disagreements or performance failings, but not impeachable crimes.

How did the failure of the border deal impact the political landscape leading up to the 2024 elections?

The failure highlighted the weakness of the Biden Administration's handling of the border issue, which could be a significant point of contention during the election campaign.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Dead on Arrival: The Failed Bipartisan Border Policy Bill

The first paragraph discusses the failure of a 370-page bipartisan bill aimed at addressing border policy and foreign aid within 48 hours of its release. It highlights the historical difficulty in achieving consensus on immigration legislation in the U.S., with a record number of illegal crossings at the southern border. The paragraph also touches on public opinion, favoring a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants alongside increased border security, but notes the elusive nature of compromise. It recounts past failures in bipartisan efforts, including those backed by George W. Bush in 2007 and the 2013 Senate bill that died in the GOP-controlled House. The 2024 Senate Bill's limited approach and the linking of Ukraine aid to a border solution are mentioned, with the narrative focusing on the divisive nature of immigration within the Republican party and the influence of Donald Trump's opposition to the bill.

05:02

🏛️ Political Posturing Over Border Security and Ukraine Aid

The second paragraph delves into the political maneuvering surrounding the border security deal and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandra Mayorkas by the GOP-led House. It portrays the impeachment as largely symbolic, expected to stall in the Democrat-controlled Senate, and reflects on the broader implications for foreign aid bills, particularly the $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel. The paragraph underscores the Republican House's resistance to pass a foreign aid bill opposed by most Republican Senators without border security measures. It concludes with anticipation of the Democrats' strategy leading up to the November elections, focusing on how they will address the border issue as a significant weakness for the Biden Administration and a key concern for voters.

Keywords

💡Bipartisan Talks

Bipartisan talks refer to discussions between two major political parties with the aim of reaching a consensus on a particular issue. In the context of the video, these talks were focused on border policy and foreign aid, indicating the collaborative effort to address these matters. The script mentions that despite four months of such talks, the resulting bill was rejected, highlighting the difficulty in achieving agreement on divisive issues.

💡Border Policy

Border policy encompasses the regulations and procedures implemented by a country to govern the entry and exit of people and goods across its borders. The video discusses the contentious nature of border policy in the U.S., particularly in relation to immigration and asylum seekers, and the challenges faced in passing legislation to address these issues.

💡Asylum

Asylum is a form of protection granted to individuals who have been forced to flee their country and cannot return due to a well-founded fear of persecution. The script notes the influx of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S. southern border, which has become a significant and divisive political issue.

💡Immigration Reform

Immigration reform refers to changes in the laws and policies governing immigration. The video script discusses the history of failed attempts at immigration reform in the U.S., emphasizing the complexity and political challenges in finding a compromise on this issue.

💡Security of the Border

The security of the border pertains to measures taken to protect a country's borders from unauthorized crossings and potential threats. The script mentions that while the majority of Americans favor some form of border security, finding a bipartisan agreement on how to achieve this has proven elusive.

💡Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented immigrants are individuals residing in a country without the necessary authorization or documentation. The video discusses the public opinion on providing a path to citizenship for these individuals, reflecting the compassion versus enforcement debate in immigration policy.

💡Dreamers

Dreamers is a term commonly used to refer to individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children without documentation. The script mentions a proposal by Trump to offer citizenship to Dreamers in exchange for border barrier funding, which was never agreed upon.

💡National Security

National security involves the measures taken by a government to protect the country's citizens, infrastructure, and interests from both internal and external threats. The script discusses a $118 billion bipartisan national security and border package, indicating the high priority placed on securing the nation's borders.

💡Divisive Issue

A divisive issue is one that tends to split opinions and create conflict among different groups or individuals. The video script highlights immigration as a divisive issue in American politics, affecting the ability to pass legislation and causing rifts within political parties.

💡Political Campaign

A political campaign is a series of activities and strategies employed by individuals, groups, or political parties to influence the decision-making process within a democracy. The script notes that Donald Trump's political campaign has focused on immigration, using it as a key issue to rally support and influence policy discussions.

💡Deportation Operation

A deportation operation refers to the process of forcibly removing non-citizens from a country, typically those who are in the country illegally. The script mentions Trump's statement about beginning the largest domestic deportation operation in America, illustrating the enforcement approach to immigration.

Highlights

Four months of bipartisan talks resulted in a 370-page bill on border policy and foreign aid, which was rejected within 48 hours of release.

Last year, Republicans demanded legislation to stop the influx of migrants seeking asylum at the southern US border, but rejected a bipartisan bill when it was released.

A supplemental funding proposal with immigration provisions was not considered a border security bill and had no chance of becoming law.

Immigration has been a divisive issue in American politics for decades, with record numbers of illegal crossings on the southern US border.

Despite large majorities favoring a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and increased border security, compromise has been elusive.

In 2007, a bipartisan bill backed by President George W. Bush failed in the Senate, highlighting the difficulty of passing immigration legislation.

The 2024 Senate Bill took a more limited approach, focusing on securing the border due to pressure from the GOP to link it with new aid for Ukraine.

Ukraine aid has become increasingly contentious among Republicans, partly due to opposition from Donald Trump, the likely Republican Presidential nominee.

The $118 billion bipartisan National Security and Border package was abandoned by even GOP lawmakers who once supported it.

Donald Trump's opposition to the bill and his campaign against any agreement on it influenced Republicans to reject the deal.

Trump's political calculation may be to worsen the border situation to improve his targeting of the Biden Administration's perceived failures.

The GOP-led House impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandra Mayorkas on February 13th, a move seen as largely symbolic.

The Senate passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine and Israel, but its fate remains uncertain due to opposition from the GOP-led House.

The Democrats are expected to position themselves on immigration policy and handle it as a political issue leading up to the November elections.

The American public is increasingly concerned about border security, with independent voters trusting Republicans more than Democrats on the issue.

The failure of the 2024 border deal highlights the ongoing struggle to find a bipartisan solution to immigration and border security.

Transcripts

four months of bipartisan talks to come

up with a deal on Border policy and

foreign aid a 370 page Bill and less

than 48 hours after it was released the

good news is this bill is dead last year

Republicans demanded legislation to stop

the flood of migrants seeking Asylum at

the southern US border but when a

bipartisan bill was released in the

Senate earlier this month they rejected

it we got a supplemental funding

Proposal with immigration Provisions

it's not a border security Bill we have

no real chance here to make a law I

guess that's it the politics changed and

it's not the first time here's why good

faith attempts at border legislation

routinely fall victim to the issue's

difficult

politics immigration has been a divisive

issue in American politics for decades

and in recent years there's been a

record number of illegal Crossings on

the southern US border hitting almost

250,000 in December it's an issue that

arouses a lot of passion particularly on

the Grassroots right large majorities of

the American people favor some sort of

path to citizenship for undocumented

immigrants as well as increasing the

security of the Border but finding

compromise on that has been elusive for

decades in 2007 a bipartisan Bill backed

by Republican President George W bush

failed in the Senate legal immigration

is one of the top concerns of the

American people and congress's failure

to act on it is a dis

appointment in 2013 a bill passed the

Senate with a strong bipartisan margin

but died in the GOP controlled house in

2018 Trump proposed a path to

citizenship for undocumented immigrants

who came to the us as children commonly

referred to as dreamers in exchange for

funds for expanded barriers along the

border with Mexico a deal was never

reached again and again these deals have

fallen apart and the once promising

political careers of otherwise sort of

conservatives in good standing such as a

Marco Rubio or a James Langford have

ended in tatters at the end of this

process Republicans just can't get to

yes because this issue is so divisive

and so toxic with their

base typically Republicans have focused

on increasing border security in

legislation while Democrats have

prioritized legalizing undocumented

immigrants the 2024 Senate Bill took a

more limited approach the major

difference in this negotiation versus

previous rounds of bipartisan efforts at

immigration reform is that they really

were only looking at securing the Border

because the GOP said it would not pass

new aid for Ukraine unless the deal

included a solution for the influx of

migrants at the southern US border the

two were linked in one package we've

seen Ukraine Aid become increasingly

contentious particularly among

Republicans in part because Donald Trump

who is most likely going to be the

Presidential nominee of the Republican

Party has crusaded against it so

politically this was a way for

Republicans to take an issue that was

internally divisive foreign aid and

pivot to an issue that at least at the

time Republicans saw as unifying their

party the need to secure the border and

Democrats were willing to pass a much

more conservative Bill than they had

been in the past this country is crying

out for the parties to stop fighting

over immigration and just get something

done voters in polls particularly

independent voters uh trust the

Republicans by a large margin to deal

with the Border over the Democrats so

there was pressure on the Democrats to

come to the table the result was a $118

billion by partisan National Security

and Border package by the time the bill

reached the senate floor even GOP

lawmakers who had once backed the effort

abandoned it Republicans in this

situation ended up as sort of the dog

that caught the car once they had gotten

what they asked for they found that they

still couldn't agree to it for political

reasons in particular because Donald

Trump whose signature issue has always

been immigration came out against it and

began campaigning against any kind of

agreement on this bill we have no choice

within moments of my inauguration we

will begin the largest domestic

deportation operation in

America he hasn't always been successful

in throwing his weight around on Capitol

Hill but when it comes to an issue like

immigration and when that issue

coincides with the political campaign

and when it's an issue that a lot of

people are paying attention to it

creates a situation where Republicans

are definitely listening to what Trump

has to say there's no good for the

Republicans and frankly any Republican

that signs it should be ashamed of

himself or herself as cynical as he's

accused of being Trump's political

calculation on this may be correct that

the worse the Border situation gets the

better he

does targeting what they say are border

failures by the Biden Administration

Republicans in the GOP Le house

impeached Homeland Security secretary

Alejandra mayorcas on February 13th

after an embarrassing failure to oust

him in a vote a week earlier desperate

times call for desperate measures we had

to do that he has abdicated his

responsibility he's breached the public

trust and he's disregarded the laws

Congress has passed Critics on both

sides of the aisle said the charges

amounted to policy disagreements or

performance failings but not impeachable

crimes mayor's impeachment is seen as

largely symbolic as it is expected to

hit an impass in the Democrat controlled

Senate while the 24 border deal

ultimately failed the Senate did pass a

95.3 billion Aid package for Ukraine and

Israel but its fate remains uncertain

the Republican Le house will not be

jammed or forced into passing a foreign

aid bill that was opposed by most

Republican Senators and does nothing to

secure our own border one thing that I

will be watching with interest is how

the Democrats position themselves going

forward every day between now and

November the American people are going

to know

that the only reason the border is not

secure is Donald Trump and his Maggie

Republican friends I'm interested to see

what action the Democrats take

policy-wise and then also how they try

to handle this as a political issue

given that it's such a significant

weakness for the president and his

re-election campaign and given that it

seems to be so top of mind for voters as

we head into this election

[Music]

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