5 February 2024
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Senators released the highly anticipated $118 billion package to impose tougher immigration and asylum laws.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called the Senate’s bipartisan border bill dead on arrival in the House and says it will only make the border worse.
Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer called the bill transformative.
“This is one of the most important pieces of legislation that the Senate has seen in years,” said Schumer.
The $118 billion package would beef up border security and immigration enforcement while sending more aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine.
Schumer says it is the most aggressive border security and migration overhaul bill in decades.
“We all know it’s the right thing to do. We all know it’s very much needed. We all know that a lot of the future of America depends on this,” he said.
Johnson opposes the Senate bill saying it doesn’t go far enough to secure the border.
“I have been saying what the requirements are to fix the problem. I don’t care if they call the legislation H.R. two or not. What we’re saying is you have to stem the flow,” Johnson said.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says the Senate is taking the right approach.
“The responsible approach is a comprehensive one to address America’s national security priorities,” Jeffries said.
Schumer says the Senate could vote on the bill this week.