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A group of House Republicans have aired their discontent with the possibility of government funding if it doesn’t incorporate substantial border fortification initiatives.
This statement came to light following last Sunday’s proclamation of a bipartisan arrangement to keep the government functioning through the end of 2024. The declaration was jointly made by Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Their financial plan corresponds with the terms previously assured by Kevin McCarthy during his tenure as House Speaker, and President Joe Biden, embedded within the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. However, this deal hasn’t sat well with the conservative faction within the House of Representatives.
A faction fears that without decisive action to halt unlawful immigration across the southern border, they may feel compelled to oppose the government funding agreement, potentially triggering a government shutdown. Their views echo sentiments expressed by Republican Representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona and Matt Gaetz of Florida.
Biggs, Gaetz, and Crane were among eight house members who voted to depose McCarthy from his leadership position due to a temporary spending agreement he negotiated with President Biden to prevent a potential government shutdown at the end of September.
Enabling the funds to keep the government running, they argue, should hinge on the President’s assent to H.R. 2, or its equivalent. This comment further accentuated their firm standing on border security matters.
Burchett’s spokesperson, Rachel Partlow, communicated to the Daily Caller News Foundation that this stance could potentially diminish the impactfulness of border security efforts. Additionally, Burchett is still contemplating whether to back Johnson’s expulsion following the deal.
Roy and Burchett are part of a small but steadfast conservative faction, known as the House Freedom Caucus, comprised of 45 House Republicans. These representatives often lean towards conservative positions on several key issues.
According to government records, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detained more than 2.3 million illegal immigrants at the southern border during the fiscal year 2022, a figure which saw a rise to nearly 2.5 million in fiscal year 2023.
The first two months of 2024 saw over an additional 483,000 illegal immigrants make their way across the southern border. The surge of illegal border crossings has ignited accusations from Republicans towards the Biden administration of intentional dismissal of U.S. immigration laws.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been squarely targeted by these criticisms and has faced impeachment calls in the House on five separate occasions. Interestingly, a sixth impeachment inquiry, this time supported by top-ranking House Republicans, is currently underway.
Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, mentioned on Fox News that border security should be the prime focus when negotiating the spending deal. He even hinted at the possibility of a government shutdown as a necessary risk for affirming border security.
He insisted that such rigid stance aligns with the expectations of the American public, suggesting a possible government shutdown could be the price to pay for a secure border, a viewpoint resonating with the American core values.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to offer a response on the topic. It remains to be seen how these tensions will play out in the legislature as conservative voices echo a strong desire for decisive border security measures to be implemented.