‘I’m not a yes vote today’: Is the Senate close to passing Ukraine-border bill?

[RAY BOGAN]

Senate negotiators are close but don’t have a deal yet on a supplemental foreign aid package that also includes border security and immigration reforms here in the US. 

The principal negotiators are working out the details, hoping to have something to vote on in the next week or two. Republicans have been holding up the aid package, demanding changes to immigration parole and asylum. 

Now 13 Democratic Senators and counting want to add an amendment requiring aid recipients cooperate with US humanitarian efforts. 

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-VA:

“Any nation receiving aid and the supplemental package that would include Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and probably others would have to comply with international law and cooperate with US humanitarian efforts. So it’s an even handed and reasonable amendment. No surprise, we’re picking up more support.”

[RAY BOGAN]

Once the final deal is released, it’s expected to pass on a bipartisan basis. Senate leadership wants to get it approved as quickly as possible. But it’s not yet clear how many votes it will ultimately receive. 

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.:

“I think what Senator Lankford has been able to get Democrats to agree to is remarkable. I just don’t know that it gets to the point of a confidence level that would allow a yes vote yet. Certainly I want to be a yes vote. But I’m not a yes vote today.”

[RAY BOGAN]

Cramer says getting to a yes will require stricter rules on immigration parole and better policy enforcement. 

Republican leadership, including Senator Mitch McConnell, is urging their members to support this deal. 

They say it is the best they’ll get on immigration reform without Democrats insisting a pathway to citizenship and amnesty also be included and is better than anything Democrats would agree to in a Trump administration

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.:

“To get this kind of border security without granting a pathway to citizenship is really unheard of. So if you think you’re going to get a better deal, next time, in ‘25 if President Trump’s president, Democrats will be expecting a pathway to citizenship for that.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

“What is it about this particular moment in time that makes this type of a deal possible?” 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT:

“I think the urgency of our aiding Ukraine and Israel increase the imperative to reach some kind of compromise on border security. But border security itself is an interest. And it’s a national security goal that should bring us together.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

Getting it through the House is another story. 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene promised to make a motion to vote on removing Speaker Mike Johnson if he brings forward a package that includes Ukraine Aid, although some Democrats say they’d rescue him if that happened. 

House Republicans are keeping immigration in the spotlight as they push for even stricter border measures. 

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding information about his statements reported by Fox News that the release rate for immigrants apprehended crossing the border is above 85%. He wants documents and communications from the department related to the releases and monthly updates from here on out.

The Judiciary Committee also released data that shows there are at least 617,607 immigrants listed as not-detained by ICE who have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. 

As of December 10, 2023, there were 1,323,264 immigrants with final orders of removal who remained in the United States. Straight from DC, I’m Ray Bogan.