White House urges House Speaker to back bipartisan border deal

• White House urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to back bipartisan Senate deal on border security

• Johnson says the bill is 'absolutely dead'

• House Republicans changing their message on border security

A view shows the White House in Washington

Reuters

The White House is intensifying efforts to persuade House Speaker Mike Johnson to support a bipartisan Senate deal on border security, as tensions rise over the proposed legislation. While the Senate has yet to release the actual text of the border bill, Johnson has made it clear that he considers the deal to be 'absolutely dead.'

The negotiation process remains complex, with senators still working to transform the agreement into bill text. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that House Republicans will outright reject the proposed deal. Johnson reiterated this stance in a private meeting and subsequent press conference, leaving no room for doubt.

Notably, Republicans have shifted their messaging on the issue. Initially, they were demanding policy changes regarding the southern border in exchange for aid to Ukraine. However, many Republicans, including former President Trump and the new speaker, are now arguing that the Biden administration already possesses the authority to act without the need for new legislation from Congress to secure the southern border.

When asked if Republicans were merely catering to Trump's political interests, Johnson denied such allegations, calling them absurd. He emphasized that their responsibility is to protect the American people, asserting that the federal government's primary duty is citizen safety. Johnson also acknowledged having extensive discussions with former President Trump regarding the issue, indicating a shared understanding of their obligation to secure the country.

However, despite Johnson's assertion that politics are not a motivating factor, some Republican members hold a different view. Representative Troy Nels, a close ally of Trump, explicitly stated that they should not pass the Senate border deal and should avoid boosting President Biden's poll numbers.

In parallel to these developments, House Republicans are actively pursuing the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The Homeland Security Committee has spent the day considering two impeachment articles against Mayorkas, alleging that he mishandled the situation at the southern border and eroded the trust of the American people. Democrats counter these accusations by suggesting that Republicans are merely seeking political advantage. They argue that if Republicans genuinely wanted to address the border crisis, they could pass the emerging Senate border deal, which they have firmly rejected.

The meeting regarding Mayorkas' impeachment has become increasingly contentious, with Democrats employing procedural tactics to delay or derail the process. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that the articles will pass through the committee later today. It should be noted, however, that even if the impeachment articles pass the House, they are expected to be dead on arrival in the Senate.