Bipartisan US Senators finalize $118B package on immigration, Ukraine, Israel
The bill faces opposition from both Trump supporters and progressive. Despite President Joe Biden’s backing, its passage remains uncertain.
In Washington, the US Senate’s Democratic and Republican leadership, backed by President Joe Biden, have reached a groundbreaking bipartisan agreement on immigration. The deal aims to enhance measures against illegal immigration, empowering the executive to close the border under specific circumstances. Additionally, it seeks to expand opportunities for legal migration by introducing more green cards and spousal work visas.
The allocation of $20 billion to enhance border controls is part of a larger $118 billion national security supplementary budget. This comprehensive package also encompasses funding of over $60 billion for military aid to Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and bolstering security measures in the Indo-Pacific region.
The fate of the deal remains uncertain. On the conservative side, former US President Donald Trump, who has centered his campaign on criticizing Biden’s immigration policies and is unwilling to allow the administration a victory on the issue, along with Republican House leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, who labeled the deal as “dead on arrival,” have vowed to obstruct it. Their argument is that the immigration restrictions proposed in the deal are not stringent enough. Conversely, progressive lawmakers within the Democratic Party and numerous immigration advocacy groups from the Left have opposed the deal, asserting that it imposes excessive restrictions and falls short of comprehensive immigration reform.
A fair deal: Biden
In a statement, Biden praised the deal as the “most stringent and equitable border reforms in decades,” emphasizing that his team collaborated closely with Senators in crafting the text.
Biden highlighted that the deal will authorize him to “close” the border during periods of overwhelming influx, streamline the asylum process to be “fairer and more efficient,” expedite the issuance of work permits for individuals already present in the US, expand opportunities for families to reunite through both short-term visits and increased permanent legal pathways, ensure legal representation for unaccompanied young children, and allocate resources for the recruitment of additional border patrol agents, immigration judges, asylum officers, and advanced inspection technology to combat the trafficking of fentanyl. Additionally, the inclusion of funding for Ukraine in the deal holds significance for the administration, as Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian aggression largely depends on American support.
Indian immigrants
The proposed bill carries various implications for Indian immigrants. With the recent increase in illegal Indian immigration across the southern border, it is expected to result in stricter enforcement measures. However, for those already residing in the US, it offers the potential for expedited work authorization. Additionally, for legally present individuals, it presents potential relief in three key areas. Firstly, it raises the annual cap on immigrant visas by an additional 250,000 over a span of five years (50,000 per year). Secondly, it provides relief to over 250,000 individuals who arrived in the United States as children on their parents’ work visas and have since “aged out” by allowing them to obtain work authorization if they were dependent children for eight years before turning 21. Lastly, in order to promote family unity, it permits non-citizens to travel to the US on a visitor visa.
Trump rejects the deal
The proposed bill carries various implications for Indian immigrants. With the recent increase in illegal Indian immigration across the southern border, it is expected to result in stricter enforcement measures. However, for those already residing in the US, it offers the potential for expedited work authorization. Additionally, for legally present individuals, it presents potential relief in three key areas. Firstly, it raises the annual cap on immigrant visas by an additional 250,000 over a span of five years (50,000 per year). Secondly, it provides relief to over 250,000 individuals who arrived in the United States as children on their parents’ work visas and have since “aged out” by allowing them to obtain work authorization if they were dependent children for eight years before turning 21. Lastly, in order to promote family unity, it permits non-citizens to travel to the US on a visitor visa.
Progressives are also challenging the bill, with House progressive caucus chair Pramila Jayapal asserting that the bill was formulated amidst “Republican hostage-taking and refusal to fund aid for Ukraine.” She stated that the text contained detrimental provisions, including Title 42, which would “shut down the border and reject asylum seekers without proper legal proceedings,” impose “unattainable standards and deadlines for migrants to file asylum claims,” and restrict parole at land ports of entry, ultimately “discouraging individuals from seeking processing at ports in a secure and organized manner.”
She argued that exchanging minor adjustments to visas for the shutdown of the asylum system and causing additional harm to vulnerable individuals seeking refuge in the United States does not constitute genuine reform.
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