House Majority Leader Rejects Senate's Bipartisan Border Bill
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced on Sunday that the Senate’s bipartisan border bill would not be considered in the lower chamber, following the release of the package after months of negotiations.
Scalise reiterated concerns raised by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), including assertions that the bill would permit 5,000 migrants per day, a claim disputed by negotiators. He also criticized the asylum provisions in the proposed legislation.
In a social media post, Scalise stated unequivocally, “The Senate Border Bill will NOT receive a vote in the House,” emphasizing concerns about the bill’s impact on illegal immigration and automatic work permits for asylum recipients.
While Johnson has not commented on the bill since its release, he previously indicated that the package, as he understood it, would be “dead-on-arrival” in the House.
Scalise’s remarks align with claims circulating in conservative circles, particularly regarding provisions related to border closure thresholds. According to the bill, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would have the authority to close the border if daily migrant encounters exceed certain thresholds.
However, proponents of the bill argue that migrants exceeding these thresholds would not be granted free entry into the country. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) clarified that such migrants would either be detained or placed in an alternative program, disputing claims that they would roam freely within the country.
The 370-page package, unveiled on Sunday evening, includes provisions for aid to Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian purposes, totaling $118 billion, with $20 billion allocated for the border component.
