Ahead of a meeting at the White House, Speaker Mike Johnson threw cold water on the Senate’s comprehensive immigration and national security deal, saying he would only accept strict border security measures.
Republicans in the House of Representatives have expressed skepticism about the negotiations led by their Senate counterparts, insisting that they will only accept the tough border bill, HR 2, that passed the House of Representatives last year.
“I don’t think this is the time for comprehensive immigration reform because we know how complicated that is,” Johnson told reporters on Wednesday.
‘You don’t do that so quickly. I think it’s time to secure the border. And that is what HR 2 reflects.”
“We’re curious to see the text of what (the Senate) did,” Johnson added.
Ahead of a meeting at the White House, Speaker Mike Johnson threw cold water on the Senate’s comprehensive immigration and national security deal, saying he would only accept strict border security measures.
On Wednesday at 3:15 p.m., Johnson will meet with President Biden and Senate Majority Leaders Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, to discuss the sprawling $110 billion package that would include immigration. reforms and border security and aid to Israel and Ukraine.
“We need, we have asked what the end game is,” Johnson said he would tell Ukraine’s president aid. “We need to know that Ukraine will not be another Afghanistan.”
Johnson continued: “Before we even talk about Ukraine, I’m going to tell the president… border, border, border. We have to take care of our own home. We need to secure our own border before we talk about anything else.”
Republican leaders in the House of Representatives privately told their Republican conference on a call that he would not accept the deal currently being negotiated in the Senate. This agreement links border determinations and national security assistance.
But McConnell insisted senators are still moving forward on the deal.
“Negotiators are making progress on the most significant border improvements in nearly three decades,” the Republican leader told reporters.
On Wednesday at 3:15 p.m., Johnson will meet with President Biden and Senate leaders Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Senate negotiators have met with White House officials, including Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas since before the holidays, but has provided few details.
“Our goal is to get it out as quickly as possible,” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told reporters. ‘And we hope to be able to do that this week. But we keep going with small technical things that come up again and again.’
Biden has faced significant resistance from hardline conservatives over his additional $106 billion funding request. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., suggested last week that she might make a motion to remove Johnson from the speakership if he placed more funding for Ukraine in the House of Representatives.
But Republicans continue to insist on the need to stem the flow of migrants at the southern border.
Republican caucusgoers in Iowa said in exit polls that immigration was their number one issue, suggesting the issue will remain top of mind in the 2024 election.