(UnitedVoice.com) – The battle over immigration is raging on Capitol Hill. Former President Donald Trump has ordered Republicans not to make a deal over border policy with Democrats. Now, the Oklahoma Republican Party has vowed to stop supporting one senator who wants a bipartisan agreement to keep the country safe.
On January 27, the Oklahoma GOP voted to censure US Senator James Lankford (R-OK) for his work to find a bipartisan border deal. The senator has been trying to negotiate an agreement that will be able to get through the Democratic-controlled Senate and one that President Joe Biden will sign off on, but will keep America safe from the millions of migrants pouring into the country.
The immigration deal Lankford is negotiating would reportedly make it harder for immigrants to claim asylum, easier for Homeland Security to deport migrants, add money to hire more Border Patrol, and expand immigration detention capacity. Democrats are willing to work with the GOP on the bill in order to get more funding for Ukraine. It’s a rare opportunity for Republicans to push stricter border policies through without a lot of opposition from the Left during a Democratic presidency with a split government. However, Republican hardliners, including Trump, don’t want a bipartisan deal.
The Oklahoma censure will end “all support” for Lankford. State Sen. Dusty Deevers (R) shared the censure resolution on X, formerly Twitter.
“Resolution Condemning & Censoring Senator Lankford’s Open Border Deal” as approved by the OKGOP State Committee members on January 27, 2024. pic.twitter.com/peVqHAfIpt
— Dusty Deevers (@DustyDeevers) January 27, 2024
On the same day as the censure vote, Trump told a crowd of supporters in Las Vegas that they should blame him for the implosion of border negotiations.
Days earlier, The Hill reported that during a meeting with the Republican conference, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told his caucus that Trump doesn’t want them to make a deal because he doesn’t want President Joe Biden to have a victory. He wants to campaign on the issue. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) blasted the former president, calling it “appalling.” Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), one of the lawmakers working with Lankford on negotiations, warned the GOP that it would be a mistake to walk away because they are worried Biden would get a campaign victory.
Opponents of the plan claim that it would allow tens of thousands of illegal immigrants into the country before the Department of Homeland Security would be forced to take action to enforce border controls. In addition, the deal would provide expedited work permits to illegal aliens and provide lawyers for Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) — all on the taxpayers’ dime.
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