House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has publicly criticized the Senate’s proposed border bill. Speaking on Monday evening during an interview, Johnson argued that the bill would only serve to “further incentivize illegal immigration.”
The proposed legislation has ignited a firestorm of negative reactions from prominent Republicans nationwide. Among those voicing their objections are Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former President Donald Trump, the House Republican leadership team, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
This immigration bill is dead on arrival in the House.⁰⁰We will not pass immigration legislation that further incentivizes illegal immigration, does not reform asylum and parole in a meaningful way, and empowers President Biden and his cabinet, the architects of this… pic.twitter.com/IbD1KAQSOZ
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) February 6, 2024
Johnson expressed his concerns about the bill’s potential effects during a conversation with Fox News host Laura Ingraham. He contended that the bill does not offer any significant reforms to the current asylum system or parole process, both of which he described as “broken.” Furthermore, he suggested that the legislation would “empower” the very Cabinet secretary who is responsible for the existing problems.
Johnson continued to criticize the bill, stating, “They don’t follow federal law. Why would we do this anyway?” He went on to argue that the bill could cause more harm than good, leading him to dismiss it as a “nonstarter” in the House.
In a tweet, Johnson reinforced his stand against the proposed legislation, stating, “This immigration bill is dead on arrival in the House… We will not pass immigration legislation that further incentivizes illegal immigration, does not reform asylum and parole in a meaningful way, and empowers President Biden and his cabinet, the architects of this…”
This ongoing controversy underscores the deep divide among lawmakers over how to address the complex issues surrounding immigration. With top Republicans expressing strong opposition to the bill, its future remains uncertain.
