WASHINGTON (TND) — Lawmakers returning to Washington D.C. this week after the Thanksgiving holiday will face pressures to address the White House’s national security spending request.
The request asks lawmakers to approve $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the southern border with Mexico.
But there are a few snags holding up GOP support for the proposal. The first is the split for sending additional support for Ukraine. The second snag is over the southern border.
“I think it’s going to be very difficult to get it done by the end of the year,” Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, said on NBC’s Meet the Press this past Sunday. “Congress is going to require that there be laws changed to make sure that the southern border returns to its prior state. Perhaps a remain in Mexico or other types of provisions.”
As illegal migration numbers continue to surge, former President Donald Trump is promising a dramatic tightening of the United States’ immigration policies should he win back the White House next year.
I don’t think there’s ever been a country in history that’s had a border where millions and millions and millions of people are flowing into our country. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” said Trump.
Another illegal migration spike is also unfolding in Europe, triggered by increased smuggling activity and surges in asylum seekers from war-torn areas such as Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa.
This situation prompted at least ten EU countries including Germany, Italy, France and Sweden to impose checks and increase security at normally open borders.
Europe’s immigration issues led to the election of far-right Geert Wilders as the new prime minister of the Netherlands.
Wilders ran on a highly controversial proposal to bring immigration to zero.
“Several European countries are realizing the consequences of having open borders for so many years…. self-preservation is a strong human response and that’s what we’re seeing,” said Lora Ries, Director of the Border Security & Immigration Center at the Heritage Foundation.
Support for tightening the southern border is on the rise among Americans.
Gallup polling from the summer showed Americans who believe immigration is good for the country hit the lowest level in a decade. A separate NBC News poll from last week found that three in four Americans support Congress spending more money on securing the southern border.