White House Accuses GOP of Siding with Fentanyl Traffickers by Opposing Border Bill
In a scathing attack on congressional Republicans, the White House has alleged that they have prioritized politics over the lives of American citizens by opposing a bipartisan border bill. The bill, which failed a test vote in February, aimed to provide funding for border operations and establish a new temporary emergency border authority to mandate expulsions of migrants when migration levels exceed certain thresholds.
The Biden administration has consistently thrown its support behind the bill, arguing that it will enhance the government’s ability to tackle the border crisis and combat the smuggling of fentanyl, a deadly illicit drug. According to the White House, the bill includes provisions that would fund 100 machines to detect fentanyl in vehicles attempting to cross into the U.S. and hire thousands of new law enforcement personnel to operate those machines and work to stop fentanyl from entering the country.
However, Republicans have rejected the bill, claiming that it doesn’t go far enough to secure the border and would regularize already-high levels of illegal immigration. They have instead called for the passage of border security legislation that was passed in the House last year, which would continue border wall funding and shut down parole processes into the U.S.
The White House has accused Republicans of opposing the bill “sheerly out of politics” and under pressure from former President Donald Trump. The administration has urged congressional Republicans to support the bill, stating that they must choose between politics and saving the lives of innocent constituents.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill later this week, and it is likely to face stiff GOP opposition. If the bill fails again, it will be a setback for the Biden administration’s efforts to address the border crisis and combat the fentanyl epidemic.
