U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) says it’s “deeply disappointing” that the GOP is using the southern border “to score political points” as he panned the proposed U.S. Senate Border Deal.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“It is deeply disappointing that our southern border challenges are being used to score political points by Republicans. And while we should approach these issues in a bipartisan manner, it is clear that the Senate Border Deal is built on flawed policy instead of comprehensive solutions,” he said in a statement.
“Here are the deal’s failings: It would enact permanent changes to our asylum system, making it harder for migrants escaping violence in their home country to have their cases heard, increase funding for immigration detention, and pave the way for Trump-era border wall construction. And it acceded to GOP demands to leverage aid for our close allies in exchange for unacceptable changes to our immigration policy.”
He continued that the deal does not have a clear path to obtain legal status for DREAMers, farmworkers, and other immigrants that have been stuck waiting for citizenship, as noting that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus was not consulted on the bill.
Additionally, the freshman congressman, who is in the midst of a spirited re-election campaign where Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has emerged as his chief rival, made his remarks exactly one year after visiting the southern border.
His sentiment is similar to that of his father, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who emphatically came out against the potential compromise on Monday, despite battling federal corruption charges.
“If these changes were being considered under Trump, Democrats would be in outrage, but because we want to win an election Latinos and immigrants now find themselves on the altar of sacrifice,” his own lengthy statement said.
Both President Joe Biden (D) and former President Donald Trump (R) have come out against the legislation, which would include over $118 billion to U.S. allies Ukraine and Israel, as well, making the bill appear destined to be defeated at this stage.
“It looks to me and to most of our members as if we have no real chance here to make a law,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters this afternoon, per CBS News.