Senate Democrats and Republicans talked past each other on Thursday about border policies, further lowering the prospects of a deal on war aid a day after President Biden’s $110 billion request failed in the chamber.
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, a key Democratic negotiator, said the border issue is a lack of resources to process migrants — not decreasing the record 12,000 encounters that occurred in a single day this week.
“My goal is to have a border where people are processed at the border, and a process by which individuals with legitimate [asylum] claims get to state that,” Mr. Murphy said. “I think Republicans overstate the impact that policy has on the number of people that show up at the border.”
Republicans laughed at Mr. Murphy’s premise.
“These negotiations should end. It’s hard to fix a problem if you don’t understand what it’s all about,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, told reporters. “If you think 12,000 people are coming here because we’re under-resourced, that’s insane.”
The back-and-forth illustrated the bitter divide between Republicans who want to stop the record flow of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border and Democrats who want to help those entering the country illegally.
Lawmakers leave for the holidays at the end of next week and return the second week in January, punting the national security package into the new year.
Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked the $110 billion package of war aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan that also included money to process illegal immigrants arriving in the U.S.
“Looks like we’ve finally gotten President Biden’s attention,” Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, said. “We found something that provides us the opportunity to force the administration to do something that they have been unwilling to do until this point.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, met with congressional leaders and administration officials Thursday in Washington to “really send a strong message we need help” as his city grapples with a flood of migrants.
Republicans want changes to the administration’s asylum, immigration parole and catch-and-release policies.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer accused Republicans of jeopardizing Ukraine’s ability to fend off Russia.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, shot back.
“I’m not in need of any lectures about the gravity of the challenges on national security,” Mr. McConnell said.
The GOP-controlled House passed a standalone $14.3 billion aid bill for Israel last month that was paid for with IRS cuts, but Senate Republicans want a broad package to force Democrats’ hands on border security.
“It’s like pulling teeth talking to these guys. ‘What would I get?’ ‘How can I sell this to my Congress?’” Mr. Graham said. “You get a secure nation — if you work with us.”
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