Biden linked Ukraine aid to border security, and it backfired

President Biden faces tough choices about how far to go in giving in to conservative demands to reduce the number of migrants admitted to the United States. United.
The White House presented it as a step toward compromise.
When President Biden sent his request to Congress last month for aid to Ukraine and Israel, he included a request for additional money to help with border security with Mexico, a sweetener intended to both resolve a crisis and win Republican support.
But this decision has now left Mr. Biden in a box.
By putting the issue on the table, he triggered demands from the right for sweeping border changes. policy, leaving his own party divided on an issue that many Democrats see as a political vulnerability heading into 2024 and further complicating prospects for key foreign policy priorities.
The president signaled Wednesday he was open to new negotiations with Senate Republicans after they blocked his emergency spending bill.
Mr. Biden now faces a stark choice over how much to discuss an issue that for decades has defied efforts to reach bipartisan compromise. And he will have to decide how far to give in to conservative demands that he dramatically reduce the number of migrants admitted to the United States while their asylum claims are considered.
“The president of the United States should be involved,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina. "Everyone behind me will vote to help Ukraine if we can straighten the border."
The White House has limited time to reach a compromise with a Congress whose members are determined. go on recess next week. Sen. Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, told reporters he was prepared to continue negotiations through the weekend.
Thursday, however , Senate Republicans have shown no signs of backing down. .
Senior Biden administration officials have told both sides of the negotiations that the White House is willing to make it harder for states to obtain asylum. -United, according to four people. familiar with the subject. Such a measure would impose a stricter definition that migrants must meet when they claim to need refuge because they fear persecution in their country of origin.
But the Republicans believe that this is not enough. They want the United States to impose policies that would make most migrants ineligible for asylum and force them to wait in Mexico until their cases are processed.
Image President Biden on Wednesday implored Congress to put aside "petty, partisan, angry politics" and pass his relief bill. emergency spending of $111 billion with funds for Ukraine and Israel. Credit... Kent Nishimura for The New York Times
The impasse left the core of Mr. Biden's foreign policy – support for the war in Ukraine – pending.
“We are obviously deeply concerned about this. We still have a few weeks left here,” White House spokesman John Kirby said of getting aid to Ukraine. “There are a small number of Republicans who want to hold this aid hostage to some pretty extreme border policies that the president is not willing to talk about. That said, he said we were ready to negotiate in good faith. »
On Wednesday, the president implored Congress to put aside “petty, partisan, angry politics.” and pass the $111 billion bill. He said not doing so could...

World Dec 8, 2023 0 35 Add to Reading List

Biden linked Ukraine aid to border security, and it backfired

President Biden faces tough choices about how far to go in giving in to conservative demands to reduce the number of migrants admitted to the United States. United.

The White House presented it as a step toward compromise.

When President Biden sent his request to Congress last month for aid to Ukraine and Israel, he included a request for additional money to help with border security with Mexico, a sweetener intended to both resolve a crisis and win Republican support.

But this decision has now left Mr. Biden in a box.

By putting the issue on the table, he triggered demands from the right for sweeping border changes. policy, leaving his own party divided on an issue that many Democrats see as a political vulnerability heading into 2024 and further complicating prospects for key foreign policy priorities.

The president signaled Wednesday he was open to new negotiations with Senate Republicans after they blocked his emergency spending bill.

Mr. Biden now faces a stark choice over how much to discuss an issue that for decades has defied efforts to reach bipartisan compromise. And he will have to decide how far to give in to conservative demands that he dramatically reduce the number of migrants admitted to the United States while their asylum claims are considered.

“The president of the United States should be involved,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina. "Everyone behind me will vote to help Ukraine if we can straighten the border."

The White House has limited time to reach a compromise with a Congress whose members are determined. go on recess next week. Sen. Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, told reporters he was prepared to continue negotiations through the weekend.

Thursday, however , Senate Republicans have shown no signs of backing down. .

Senior Biden administration officials have told both sides of the negotiations that the White House is willing to make it harder for states to obtain asylum. -United, according to four people. familiar with the subject. Such a measure would impose a stricter definition that migrants must meet when they claim to need refuge because they fear persecution in their country of origin.

But the Republicans believe that this is not enough. They want the United States to impose policies that would make most migrants ineligible for asylum and force them to wait in Mexico until their cases are processed.

Image President Biden on Wednesday implored Congress to put aside "petty, partisan, angry politics" and pass his relief bill. emergency spending of $111 billion with funds for Ukraine and Israel. Credit... Kent Nishimura for The New York Times

The impasse left the core of Mr. Biden's foreign policy – support for the war in Ukraine – pending.

“We are obviously deeply concerned about this. We still have a few weeks left here,” White House spokesman John Kirby said of getting aid to Ukraine. “There are a small number of Republicans who want to hold this aid hostage to some pretty extreme border policies that the president is not willing to talk about. That said, he said we were ready to negotiate in good faith. »

On Wednesday, the president implored Congress to put aside “petty, partisan, angry politics.” and pass the $111 billion bill. He said not doing so could...