Senate Leader McConnell Backs Away from Border Bill

(ProsperNews.net) – Republican Senator Mitch McConnell has suggested splitting support for Ukraine from border security, saying, “I think the border portion is dead.” Lawmakers are locked in negotiations over a bill that provides funds for Ukraine and Israel, but Republicans say they will only support the proposals if they include measures to secure the US southern border.

At a recent meeting of GOP Senators on Capitol Hill, Mr. McConnell said the issue was proving more “complex” than anticipated, and a source later stated that McConnell’s comments were the first step toward dropping GOP demands for border control.

A second unnamed source said McConnell was “laying out the options” amid a growing sense that Senators largely oppose the agreement, and likely Presidential nominee Donald Trump is also unenthusiastic about it.

On his Truth Social media account recently, Mr. Trump dismissed the agreement and wrote, “I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people.” Trump also said the deal allows Democrats to avoid blame for the porous southern border.

The agreement, which was negotiated by GOP Senator James Lankford, Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, and Independent Senator Kristen Sinema, would oblige the Department of Homeland Security to close the border if more than 5,000 migrants cross it daily, increase the number of Customs and Border Patrol agents and asylum officers, and make asylum claims more difficult.

Mr. Lankford told Fox News, amid criticisms from fellow Republicans, that GOP lawmakers were backing away from the deal because it is an election year and President Trump wants to campaign on immigration. Responding to a blistering attack by Floridian Senator Ted Cruz, Lankford said Cruz hadn’t read the bill, and he would never agree to anything that increased migration.

“Right now … internet rumors are all that people are running on. It would be absolutely absurd for me to agree to 5,000 people a day,” Lankford said.