Before the Thanksgiving recess, both the House and the Senate approved a continuing resolution to ensure the government remains operational. Nevertheless, assistance packages for Israel, Ukraine, and border-related matters are still pending approval. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) recently asserted an audacious statement regarding democracy while addressing border policy.
In a letter dated November 26, Schumer wrote to the Senate, outlining the forthcoming legislative agenda. He emphasized that lawmakers will need to reach a decision on Ukrainian aid in the weeks ahead.
House Republicans are attempting to leverage a partisan stance on border policy as a prerequisite for crucial aid to Ukraine. This move, as mentioned, introduces a long-standing, highly divisive matter into discussions concerning issues that typically enjoy bipartisan support.
Schumer further emphasized that the Senate must not permit partisan politics to hinder the defense of democracy. He accused House Republicans of inadvertently aligning with the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
While Schumer is hesitant to link border security with Ukraine aid, there are indications that Democrats are increasingly open to the notion of enacting stricter laws to prevent the influx of migrants into the nation and its urban centers.
Democrats seem prepared to increase the difficulty for immigrants to seek asylum, aiming to secure adequate Republican support for the approval of aid packages for both Israel and Ukraine.
There is also apprehension that the immigration crisis will adversely affect the 2024 election. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) expressed a willingness to include border security in a national security supplemental, acknowledging the flaws in the current system.
Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) expressed the view that the Southern border requires attention and indicated a willingness to pass more stringent laws without anticipating negative consequences. He expressed a desire to explore whether a bipartisan group of negotiators can reach a compromise on immigration.
