North Shore Louisiana News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Republican leaders have released a statement expressing their opposition to the Senate's immigration bill, citing concerns about border security and the potential for increased illegal immigration. Speaker Johnson, Leader Scalise, Whip Emmer, and Chairwoman Stefanik outlined their objections to the bill in a joint statement.

According to the statement, the House Republicans believe that the Senate bill fails to address key policy areas necessary for securing the border and may actually incentivize more illegal immigration. The bill expands work authorizations for illegal aliens but does not include critical asylum reforms. Additionally, the bill's provision allowing for the release of individuals from physical custody is seen as an endorsement of the Biden administration's "catch and release" policy.

The House Republicans also expressed concern about the discretionary authority granted to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas through the bill's so-called "shutdown" authority. They believe that this authority, filled with loopholes, allows Mayorkas to keep the border open in defiance of the law. The bill also fails to adequately address the abuse of parole authority by the President and allocates taxpayer funds to fly and house illegal immigrants in hotels through the FEMA Shelter and Services Program.

The House Republicans emphasized that they had already taken action to address the border crisis by passing the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2) nine months ago. They believe that this bill contains the necessary components to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and end the present crisis. They are urging the Senate to take up this bill immediately.

In conclusion, the House Republicans stated that any consideration of the Senate's immigration bill in its current form would be a waste of time. They made it clear that the bill is "dead on arrival" in the House and are encouraging the U.S. Senate to reject it. They believe that America's sovereignty is at stake and that the Senate must take immediate action to address the border crisis.

The statement from the House Republican leaders highlights their concerns about the Senate's immigration bill and their commitment to securing the border and addressing the ongoing immigration challenges facing the nation.