Trump urges GOP to reject $118B bipartisan Senate deal

Former US President Donald Trump criticizes $118B bipartisan Senate deal linking stringent border security measures with a $60 billion package for Ukraine and other national security priorities

Former US President Donald Trump called on the GOP on Monday to reject a bipartisan Senate deal that links stringent new border security measures with a $60 billion package earmarked for Ukraine and other national security priorities. Currently running for a reelection bid, Trump voiced his strong opposition, emphasizing the need for a separate Border and Immigration Bill that is untethered from foreign aid considerations.

With the harsh language that characterized the former president, Trump stated “Don’t be stupid. We need a separate Border and Immigration Bill. It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form!”  underscoring his commitment to keeping immigration and foreign policy distinct.

With the White House race looking almost certain to be a rematch of 2020, the Republican former president has been hammering his Democratic successor over record numbers of undocumented migrants crossing the southern border.

Senators unveiled one of the harshest immigration bills in a generation Sunday, including significant restrictions that Biden has committed to signing into law.

The $118.3 billion package includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, $10 billion in humanitarian aid, nearly $5 billion for Asia-Pacific partners including Taiwan, and $20 billion in new border funding.

It would be a major win for immigration hawks — full of concessions that Democrats would normally have strongly opposed, such the curbing of presidential discretion in allowing in refugees for humanitarian reasons, an expedited removal process and a mandate to close the border when apprehensions reach 5,000 daily.

It also includes none of the priorities Democrats typically push for, such as a path to citizenship for the country’s estimated 11 million undocumented migrants.

But Trump has an iron grip on Republicans leading the House of Representatives, and has called repeatedly for the party to kill the legislation and deny Biden and his Democrats a political victory ahead of November’s election.

“This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party,” Trump added.

Source: AFP