President Joe Biden’s White House is signaling to Congress it is open to supporting a dramatic new border strategy to expel migrants without screening them for asylum in an effort to compel Republicans into backing more aid for Ukraine.
Reports of the quid pro quo comes as congressional Democrats seek more assistance to the war torn country in its conflict with Russia. Biden wants to combine a $100 billion package to also include aid for Israel in defending against Hamas terrorists and Taiwan facing looming threats from China.
Meanwhile, Republicans continue to lambast Biden for his lax border policies, claiming it has led to decreased national security and increased drug and human trafficking.
But the new proposal would effectively reinstate Title 42, allowing officials to pause asylum law without a public health emergency just seven months after the Biden administration finally ended the pandemic-era policy first put in place by then-President Donald Trump.
Biden said during a White House press conference on Tuesday that he has ‘offered compromise already’ to Republicans on Capitol Hill.
President Joe Biden is negotiating with Republicans to get a $100 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in exchange for dramatically tightening border policies – including effectively reinstating Title 42 and deporting migrants without hearing asylum claims
Despite the reports, Biden said at the White House on Tuesday that GOP lawmakers ‘holding Ukraine funding hostage in an attempt to force through an extreme Republican partisan agenda on the border is not how it works’
He claims GOP lawmakers ‘holding Ukraine funding hostage in an attempt to force through an extreme Republican partisan agenda on the border is not how it works — we need real solutions.’
The Biden administration told lawmakers, according to a new CBS News report, that the president is looking at more hardline policies at the southern border that would give into some of these Republican demands – including streamlining deportations and expanding detentions and expulsions.
Four people familiar with the talks said that White House informed Senate Democrats it could back a sweeping immigration policy change as part of Biden’s negotiations for a $100 billion package that would also include military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
If agreed to, the new package would also include money to bolster border enforcement and hire more immigration officials.
Biden said at the White House Tuesday that his team is ‘working with Senate Democrats and Republicans to try to find a bipartisan compromise.’
The talks, he added, include looking at ‘changes in policy and provid[ing] the resources we need to secure the border.’
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Biden administration – in conjunction with approval from Congress – has sent more than $75 billion in financial and equipment assistance to Kyiv.
Republicans claim this is more than enough and are not keen on sending even more money to Ukraine. They have rejected Democrats who have tried to push through a joint aid package that includes aid for both Ukraine and Israel.
At the same time, illegal border crossings are still spiking and the fentanyl drug crisis has not let up as the illicit drugs continue to pour over the southern border.
Republicans have refused to pass sweeping legislation that would include more aid for Ukraine after Biden already approved sending more than $75 billion in financial and equipment assistance to Kyiv
Republicans have made the border crisis and loosening of immigration policies a centerpiece of their criticism against the Biden White House.
But now, the White House is looking to concede with Biden administration officials talking with members of Congress.
Biden, under the negotiations, would back expanding the process to expedite removal from the U.S. without court hearings if migrants don’t ask for asylum or fail their initial asylum interviews.
This sort of policy is limited to the border region, but would be expanded nationwide.
Additionally, Biden would be willing to mandate detention of migrants who are allowed into the U.S. while waiting on trials for their claims, rather than letting them loose into the country. It is unclear if the U.S. has the space to detain such a volume of migrants who cross illegally.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was on Capitol Hill on Tuesday engaging with negotiators in the Senate this week, three people who spoke with CBS say.
The talks come as Congress prepares to adjourn for the Christmas holiday at the end of the week.
Mayorkas and other Homeland Security officials are giving ‘technical assistance’ to lawmakers and staff, not negotiating terms of policy proposals, a senior DHS official said.