$118B Bi-Partisan Security Package.
The United States Senate on Sunday unveiled a bipartisan border security package focused on addressing the mass immigration issues at the border.
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US Senate Unveils $118 Billion Bipartisan Package
The United States Senate on Sunday unveiled a bipartisan border security package focused on addressing the mass immigration issues at the border. This package comes after months of negotiations and compromises intended to provide an overhaul of the immigration system and provide funding for our allies. The package includes:
- $60.1 billion for Ukraine
- $14.1 billion for Isreal
- $20.23 billion for border security
- $4.8 billion for Indo-Pacific
- $10 billion for humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, West Bank, Ukraine, and other populations.
The funding will also provide policy changes to include a strict and faster process for asylum seekers, the standard for initial interviews for asylum seekers will also be raised and interview dates will be received within days of arrival at the border.
Furthermore, according to the package, asylum seekers must be detained or tracked until they pass their initial interview or are granted asylum in a 6-month process.
The “border deal” is an easy NO. It reads like a parody of an actual border security bill.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 5, 2024
The chances of this package becoming law are uncertain, due to the hard stance resistance from some Republicans, and dissatisfaction among certain Democrats. Just a few minutes after the $118 billion package was announced, the House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, referred to the bill as "dead on arrival" if it reaches the House.
In his tweet, "The bill is even worse than we expected, and won't come close to ending the boarder catastrophe the President has created."
I’ve seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected, and won’t come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created. As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation, “the border never closes.”
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 5, 2024
If this bill reaches the House, it will be…
Certain Democrats have also raised concerns regarding the expected tougher asylum standards within the package. Senator Padilla, a Democrat from California, said in a statement that the proposal will cause more chaos at the border, not less."
For the sake of the Palestinian people and our own standing in the world we must not provide another dollar for the Netanyahu war machine. pic.twitter.com/R24NIX89pC
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 4, 2024
The bipartisan package has also received criticism from Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The senator who has always been a critic of US funding for Israel, has again criticized the section of the package, that allocates funding to Israel's war in Gaza. In a tweet, the Senator stated "For the sake of the Palestinian people and our own standing in the world we must not provide another dollar for the Netanyahu war machine."
With criticism from both sides of the aisle, the success of the bill is uncertain, as Senator Schumer hopes to schedule a key test vote on the bill on Wednesday.
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