On May 23, the U.S. Senate once again failed to pass a border bill, leading to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) losing support from members of his own caucus who had previously voted in favor of the bill in February.
This time around, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) voted against the bill after supporting it earlier in the year. Additionally, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who caucuses with the Democrats, also changed her vote from February.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), voted against the bill in both February and the recent vote. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who voted against the bill in February, was absent for the vote this time. Notably, every Democrat facing a competitive reelection fight in November voted in support of the bill.
The decision to bring the bill to a vote was met with criticism, as opponents argued that it was a political move aimed at bolstering the Democrats’ messaging ahead of the November elections.
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The bill had previously been blocked by Republicans in February as part of a broader foreign aid package, with a much closer vote of 49–50, compared to the recent 43–50 vote.
Loss of Support
Prior to the recent vote, Mr. Booker expressed serious concerns with parts of the legislation but had initially supported advancing the deal to address border challenges. He highlighted the importance of the bill’s foreign and humanitarian aid, emphasizing America’s commitment to global allies and those in need.
Mr. Booker criticized Senate Republicans for rejecting the bipartisan agreement, under pressure from former President Donald Trump, calling their actions hypocritical and indicative of their lack of commitment to resolving border issues.
In a statement before the vote, Mr. Booker outlined his reasons for voting against the bill, citing provisions that he believed would violate Americans’ shared values and not make the country safer. He also noted that the bill failed to address key components that could further solve immigration problems.
Similar to Mr. Booker, Mr. Padilla spoke against the bill, criticizing its failure to address the root causes of migration and imposing stringent asylum restrictions. He also highlighted the bill’s lack of focus on farmworkers and individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
Mr. Markey, along with Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Dick Durbin, called for additional funding to support new arrivals and aid communities in assisting them to attain self-sufficiency. They emphasized the need for a more dignified welcome for those seeking safety in the country.
In her floor speech, Ms. Sinema criticized the vote as purely political, condemning both parties for failing to take action on border issues. She had been one of the lead negotiators of the bill earlier in the year.
“It’s a chance to show we’re serious about fixing the border,” Mr. Schumer stated before the vote.
Sen. Chris Murphy, the Democrats’ lead negotiator on the package, refuted claims that Democrats were pursuing the bill for political gain, attributing political motives to Republicans seeking to kill the bill.
Mr. Murphy differentiated the Senate bill from the House’s border security bill, stating that the Senate’s version was bipartisan and aimed at solving border issues, not playing politics.
Overall, the vote highlighted the complex dynamics surrounding border legislation and the differing perspectives within the Senate.
Joseph Lord and Stacy Robinson contributed to this report.
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