Milwaukee City Wire

On Sunday, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson released a statement regarding a letter sent by 15 Senate Republicans to Conference Chair John Barrasso, requesting a meeting to discuss border security negotiations with President Biden and Senate Democrats. The meeting is proposed to take place in January 2024.

In the statement, Senator Johnson expressed his concern about the current crisis at the southwest border, stating that it is unlike anything experienced in American history. He compared the current situation to the "humanitarian crisis" sparked by President Obama in 2012 when he granted Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. Senator Johnson emphasized the scale of the crisis, stating that there have been over 12,000 encounters in a single day and encounters often exceed 10,000 per day.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Senator Johnson mentioned that out of the more than 6 million migrants who entered and stayed since President Biden took office, approximately 1.7 million are considered "known gotaways." He argued that this represents a clear danger to America, especially considering the heightened terror threats from foreign terrorist organizations.

Senator Johnson criticized President Biden and congressional Democrats, accusing them of wanting an open border. He claimed that President Biden reversed successful border security policies implemented by the previous administration. Senator Johnson pointed out that this lack of trust in the current administration poses a challenge for Republicans in conducting good-faith negotiations.

Acknowledging the need for effective enforcement, Senator Johnson commended Senator Lankford for his efforts in negotiating policies and legislative language that would provide a president who wants to secure the border with the necessary authorities. He suggested making Ukraine funding contingent on meeting monthly benchmarks as a possible enforcement mechanism.

Senator Johnson emphasized the importance of a transparent and thorough negotiation process. He criticized rushed and secret backroom negotiations, stating that it is not the appropriate approach to address the unprecedented border crisis. He called for a vetting and discussion of any agreements reached by the negotiators, both among members and the general public.

Looking forward to the proposed meeting in January 2024, Senator Johnson expressed his anticipation for beginning the vetting and discussion process. He emphasized that this process would take weeks, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the proposed solutions.

In conclusion, Senator Ron Johnson has called for a meeting of the Senate Republican Conference to discuss border security negotiations with President Biden and Senate Democrats. He highlighted the urgency and magnitude of the crisis at the southwest border and expressed the need for trust and effective enforcement in any agreements reached. Senator Johnson emphasized the importance of a transparent and thorough negotiation process, which will begin in January 2024.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-releases-statement-on-letter-calling-for-gop-conference-meeting-to-discuss-border-security-negotiations