Additional Coverage:
Republican senators have criticized their Democratic counterparts for introducing a “partisan” Homeland Security spending bill. They argue that the bill lacks bipartisan support, contains flaws, and would hinder the incoming Trump administration’s efforts to address the border crisis.
Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, accused Democrats of making a unilateral decision to advance the bill without allowing for debate or amendments. She emphasized the need for bipartisan consensus on such critical appropriations measures.
Katie Britt, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, echoed these concerns, stating that the bill falls short of what is needed to address the border crisis and strengthen immigration enforcement. She suggested that Democrats are attempting to hinder the Trump administration’s efforts to address these issues.
Bill Hagerty highlighted specific provisions in the bill that he believes favor illegal immigration, such as funding for resettling undocumented immigrants and expanding border patrol apps. He accused Democrats of using the remaining time in their control to admit as many illegal immigrants as possible.
The 11 other appropriations bills advanced out of committee with bipartisan support, while the Homeland Security measure was the only one that did not go through the committee process. It is unclear when the Senate will vote on the bill or if it will be scheduled for a vote at all.