Milwaukee City Wire

US Senator Ron Johnson has criticized the rushed and secretive negotiations between Senate leadership and President Biden as an ineffective approach to addressing the border crisis. In an op-ed published by the Washington Examiner, Sen. Johnson emphasized the need to focus on securing the border rather than broader immigration reform.

Sen. Johnson and 14 Republican Senate colleagues released a letter calling for a meeting of the Senate Republican Conference to discuss negotiations with the White House and Senate Democrats regarding border security. The senator expressed concern about being "jammed with legislation addressing the catastrophe at our border" without thorough review by both senators and the public.

Describing the current crisis at the southwest border as unprecedented, Sen. Johnson highlighted the significant increase in illegal migration. He compared the situation to the "humanitarian crisis" sparked by former President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy in 2012, stating that the current influx is "an order of magnitude larger." Sen. Johnson pointed out that encounters with illegal immigrants now exceed 10,000 per day, far surpassing the 1,000 apprehensions per day that overwhelmed the system during the Obama administration.

Sen. Johnson also criticized President Biden and congressional Democrats for their approach to border security, claiming that they want an open border. He accused President Biden of reversing successful policies implemented by the previous administration and failing to engage in meaningful negotiations until recently. Sen. Johnson argued that this lack of trust in President Biden poses a challenge for Republican negotiators.

In addition, Sen. Johnson expressed concerns about rushed and secret backroom negotiations, stating that they are not the appropriate way to address the unprecedented border crisis. He called for thorough vetting, discussion, and understanding of any agreement reached, both by members of Congress and the general public. Sen. Johnson emphasized that this process will take weeks, not hours or days.

However, Sen. Johnson made it clear that the focus should be on securing the border rather than broader immigration reform. He argued that addressing the situation of DACA recipients is politically impossible until the border is secure. Additionally, Sen. Johnson suggested enforcing any agreement through measures such as making Ukraine funding contingent on monthly benchmarks being met. He emphasized that enforcement is key to any agreement that can pass both the House and Senate.

In conclusion, Sen. Johnson urged Senate leadership and President Biden to prioritize securing the border and to engage in transparent and thorough negotiations. He emphasized the need for trust and enforcement in any agreement reached.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-for-the-washington-examiner-rushed-secret-negotiations-are-not-the-way-to-address-the-border-crisis