The White House is playing hardball with House Republicans who refuse to pass a border security bill that they argue is deeply flawed.
In retaliation, the Biden administration is threatening open border chaos if House Republicans don’t capitulate and agree to pass the border deal negotiated in the Senate.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday that because Republicans have not passed the ‘bipartisan’ border security bill that includes funding for Israel and Ukraine, the administration will have no choice but to leave the border open.
“Because congressional Republicans are choosing partisan politics over our national security and refusing to pass the bipartisan national security agreement that includes significant border reforms and funding, over the coming weeks, ICE will be forced to reduce operations because of budget shortfalls,” Jean-Pierre said on Air Force One.
“We have asked Congress for additional funding and resources, and every time Congress has provided less than we asked for, or most recently, completely ignored our supplemental request,” she added.
Following months of discussions, the U.S. Senate on Sunday announced a $118 billion bipartisan border security bill that would also offer aid to Ukraine and Israel. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson