Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky has explicitly voiced his rejection of the newly introduced bill favoring migration, branding it as “anti-American.” Paul raised alarms over the legislation’s provision to funnel an extra $60 billion to Ukraine, criticizing the overall expenditure and what he views as insincere border reform efforts. He remarked, “Given the wasteful spending of your funds and the superficial border reforms, it’s clear this bill stands against American values. My vote is a definite NO.”
Paul’s criticism of the bill, formally known as the “Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024,” echoes the sentiments of other Republican lawmakers who have voiced their objections. One of the main points of contention is the bill’s provision of amnesty to illegal aliens in the United States as long as they manage to evade capture for 14 days or travel over 100 miles away from the border.
According to the bill’s text, the border emergency authority will only be activated for aliens who do not fall under any exceptions and are within 100 miles of the Southwest land border for 14 days after entry. This means that any illegal alien who manages to surpass the 100-mile mark or evade capture for the specified period will not contribute to an emergency declaration and will not be subject to additional enforcement measures.
In addition to these concerns, critics of the bill have also highlighted the stark disparity in funding allocation. The bill provides $48 billion to Ukraine, compared to a mere $650 million designated for constructing and reinforcing the US border wall.
Republican senators, including Steve Daines from Montana and Mike Lee from Utah, have opposed the bill. Daines highlighted his objections, precisely his refusal to back legislation that does not strengthen border security, offers government-paid attorneys to undocumented immigrants, and directs substantial funds to extremist border organizations. Lee, on the other hand, criticized the opaque nature of the bill’s negotiation process and described the legislation as an unforgivable breach of trust.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has made it clear that the bill will face strong opposition in the House, stating that it is “worse than we expected” and will be “dead on arrival” if it reaches the chamber.
The overwhelming criticism from Republican lawmakers underscores the deep reservations surrounding the pro-migration bill. As the debate continues, how these objections will shape the bill’s future remains to be seen.
