Amid a contentious election year and tensions rising over how to deal with a record surge in illegal immigration, several House Democrats are backing Republican Speaker Mike Johnson to keep the gavel on the border deal instead. Politico reported on Friday that they are considering a deal.
Senate expected to clarify bipartisan boundaries The deal will soon be linked to funding for Ukraine, but Prime Minister Johnson There is pressure from former President Donald Trump not to give Democrats a win on this topic heading into November. With some House conservatives threatening to oust the new speaker over a protracted spending battle, some House Democrats are pushing for Johnson to leave in exchange for a final vote on the deal in the Senate. There are also voices opposing the motion. according to To Politico.
Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, told Politico: “Our job is not to save Mr. Johnson, but if Mr. Johnson did the right thing, we I think it would be a great shame not to support him.” “He's been a pretty honest broker so far.” (Related: Exclusive: House Republican campaign arm launches new ad targeting Democrats on 'Biden border crisis')
Two other Democrats, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith of Washington, and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, who represents border states, share similar sentiments. Ta.
“He has to decide whether he's going to do the right thing or do what's politically expedient to keep him there for another purpose. Well, for how long. I don’t know,” Gonzalez told Politico.
Trump created social media post Wednesday's Truth Social opposed such a package and said a border deal should only be concluded if “we have everything we need to stop millions and millions of people coming in.” He claimed that. The former president added that he believed Johnson would not strike such a deal unless it was “perfect for the border”.
WASHINGTON, DC – January 10: Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MI) speaks at the U.S. Capitol during a House Homeland Security speech entitled “Chaos at the Heart: The Impact of Secretary Mayorkas’ Failed Leadership on States.” Attend a hearing before the Guarantee Commission. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
All Democrats joined eight House Republicans in voting in October to remove Kevin McCarthy from office after he introduced a continuing resolution to temporarily fund the government, but Johnson He passed a similar resolution on Thursday. He faced pushback from several members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, including Republican Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona, who voted in favor of firing McCarthy.
“People actually underestimate how much they hated Kevin McCarthy,” Smith told Politico. “The argument I made to Mike was that even if something like this came out, you would make tremendous progress on the border issue, and you would still have a political problem. You are there because you think you have better things to do.”
Under the Biden administration, the number of illegal immigrants has increased rapidly, exceeding 2.2 million and 2 million in fiscal 2022 and 2023, respectively. according to to Customs and Border Protection. The number of illegal immigrants in 2024 has already reached a record high, with more than 300,000 people encountered in December, FOX News reported. reportsaid a government insider.
Johnson, Thompson, Smith and Gonzalez did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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