Democrats warned President Joe Biden that he would be surrendering to “right-wing racism” if he accepted terms Republicans are demanding to free up more funding for Ukraine.
Amid ongoing negotiations for more aid to war-torn Ukraine, Hispanic and progressive Democrats urged their colleagues and the president against accepting GOP border policy changes in exchange for getting the approval for billions more in funding that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is hoping to get.
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https://t.co/aqxf1r8uie — Congressional Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) December 13, 2023
“Please don’t go down this road, don’t cave to the extreme Republican immigration proposals, because if you do so, you cement your legacy as the asylum denier in chief. That’s not something we want to see,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the former chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a message to Biden during a Democrat press conference outside the Capitol.
Senate Democrats were urged to “hold the line” by the chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.)
This isn’t about the border – this a political stunt by Republicans. Proud to stand with my @HispanicCaucus colleagues to make it clear that we will not allow migrants to be used as political pawns. Support for our allies should stand alone. pic.twitter.com/PbXb1dzcdp — Nanette D. Barragán (@RepBarragan) December 13, 2023
Barragan has been working with her California colleague Sen. Alex Padilla in fighting against the Republicans on the issue.
CHC Chair @RepBarragan & @SenAlexPadilla Joint Statement Urging President Biden to Reject Trump-Era Immigration Policies Proposed in Supplemental Aid Negotiations ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/z7Fn3TcD2W — Congressional Hispanic Caucus (@HispanicCaucus) December 11, 2023
The progressive Democrats employed the same language in posting their warnings on social media with highlights from the press conference.
Today, I stood side-by-side with my @HispanicCaucus colleagues as we rejected calls to bring back Trump-era immigration policies. Immigrants and asylum seekers should not be used as bargaining chips in funding negotiations. Full stop. pic.twitter.com/T5HqI4JYCh — Rep. Andrea Salinas (@RepSalinas) December 13, 2023
Today, I stood w/ a broad coalition of @HouseDemocrats incl. @HispanicCaucus, @TheBlackCaucus, @CAPAC, @USProgressives + advocates to stand against a supplemental that goes against our American ideals and values as a nation of immigrants.@POTUS must not give into GOP demands. pic.twitter.com/VllBfhPvDJ — Rep. Rob Menendez (@RepMenendez) December 14, 2023
President Biden is on the verge of moving forward with severe restrictions to asylum and legal immigration, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a generation. I stood alongside my colleagues to make clear that the President cannot go down this path of Republican appeasement. pic.twitter.com/ZJrqDJrqcD — Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) December 13, 2023
I stood with @RepBarragan and the @HispanicCaucus to express alarm and opposition to reports that @POTUS is considering a deal with Republicans to essentially ban asylum and enact Trump-era immigration policies that would be devastating to communities across the U.S. and across… pic.twitter.com/TgS9oILfTm — Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) December 13, 2023
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with a bipartisan group in the Senate this week, prompting complaints from Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who focused on the lack of Hispanic representation in the group.
Republicans are choosing to hold Ukraine funding hostage in exchange for cruel and unworkable immigration policy demands. Democrats must reject this — I certainly will. pic.twitter.com/mcyHwylHLM — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) December 14, 2023
“I certainly hope and pray that there are those at the White House that are listening,” said Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM).
“Let’s sit down and talk; let’s find real solutions that are meaningful for all of the challenges that are before us in the United States of America while living up to our national security responsibilities,” he added.
I will work with anyone to deliver on common-sense immigration reform and border security investments. However, the current immigration negotiations center on extreme policies like H.R. 2 and would set a dangerous precedent. Congress must get this done right. — Senator Ben Ray Luján (@SenatorLujan) December 12, 2023
“Biden proposed $14 billion for the border as part of a larger defense supplemental that would provide funding for Ukraine, but Senate Republicans see actual policy changes as necessary to getting the money through a conservative House,” the Washington Examiner reported.