Republican Senator James Lankford anticipates that significant changes to the United States’ immigration system will be integrated into a military aid package for Israel and Ukraine, expected to be finalized by Congress by the year’s end. Lankford, leading GOP senators in border negotiations, stressed the need for comprehensive reforms, covering asylum procedures from top to bottom. While the Biden administration has proposed substantial funds for Israel, Ukraine, and border security, GOP lawmakers insist that these funds should be contingent on policy changes, especially regarding the asylum system, in light of persistently high immigration numbers at the southern border.
Lankford affirmed that he would not support overseas aid without substantial border legislation included, emphasizing the complexity of the task at hand. He underscored the importance of achieving a legal and orderly immigration process, contrasting it with the current chaos at the southern border, citing record-breaking statistics for migrant encounters.
In response, White House spokesman John Kirby argued that Congress had largely ignored President Joe Biden’s previous immigration reform plan and urged swift attention to the administration’s $100 billion funding request. Lankford, when pressed on supporting former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, indicated that the decision lies with the American people, emphasizing policy differences between Trump and Biden. However, he hinted at supporting Trump if he becomes the Republican nominee, even in the face of potential legal issues.