Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that the Senate will vote this week on bipartisan border legislation that failed several months ago, acknowledging the bill’s challenges from both sides of the aisle.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter sent on Sunday, Schumer emphasized the need for the legislation “to secure our border.” He also strongly criticized former President Donald Trump for his opposition to the bill and its influence on Republican senators.
“Congressional Republicans and Democrats alike were prepared to join arms and act to secure our nation’s border as part of the national security supplemental,” Schumer wrote, referencing the legislation introduced in February. “Unfortunately, just as the border proposal was being finalized, former President Trump demanded Congressional Republicans kill the legislation.”
“The former President made clear he would rather preserve the issue for his campaign than solve the issue in a bipartisan fashion,” Schumer continued. “On cue, many of our Republican colleagues abruptly reversed course on their prior support, announcing their new-found opposition to the bipartisan proposal.”
The New York Democrat referenced a comment from Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) at the time, who said, “The very people who demanded that we have something on the border as part of the supplemental, suddenly all these months later say they don’t want something on the border.” Cramer indicated that he thought the Senate considering the bill was a waste of time because the House was unlikely to even consider it, and he ended up voting no.
Schumer sought to contrast the work of Republicans with that of Democrats, maintaining that his party’s “commitment to act never waned.” While he said he is “hopeful” the bill will bring “serious-minded Republicans back to the table,” he has his doubts, even regarding some lawmakers in his own party.
“I will be honest: I do not expect all Democrats to support this legislation. Many of our colleagues do not support some of the provisions in this legislation, nor do I expect all Republicans to agree to every provision,” the Senate leader said. “But that is often how bipartisan legislation must be shaped when dealing with an issue as complex and politically charged as our nation’s immigration laws.”
Schumer was likely referring to the left flank of the Democratic Party being dissatisfied with details in the legislation they saw as too severe against illegal immigrants. While immigration has been a problem point for Democrats as border crossings have reached record highs, party leaders have aimed to flip the script on Republicans by showcasing their opposition to the border security bill, which was drafted in part by GOP leaders.
Immigration is slated to play a major role in November, not just in the presidential race but in crucial Senate contests, such as in Arizona, that could decide control of the upper chamber.
“The American people do not have the luxury of playing partisan blame games. They want bipartisan action to secure our border,” Schumer wrote. “At the end of the day, the American people deserve political leaders who will work towards bipartisan solutions and that is what we are prepared to do in the United States Senate this coming week.”
