Sen. James Lankford’s Border Package Faces Opposition Within GOP, But He Vows to Vote for Advancement
In a surprising turn of events, Senator James Lankford, the leading Republican negotiator on the border package, has faced opposition from within his own party. Despite this setback, Lankford remains steadfast in his commitment to vote for the advancement of his own legislation. This comes after his recent statement to reporters, where he expressed doubts about supporting his package if his colleagues needed more time to review it.
“I’m going to vote yes to be able to move on to this bill because we need a change in law. I understand we have differences, but we’ve got to sit down together, figure out how we’re going to solve problems because the American people sent us here to do that,” Lankford affirmed.
Lankford, who tirelessly negotiated with Democrats to produce the Senate’s most conservative immigration plan in decades, witnessed the collapse of his bill as members of his own party voiced their opposition. Notable figures, including former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, openly criticized the border package. Disappointed with his fellow Republicans’ refusal to pass the bill, Lankford publicly condemned their stance.
“Tomorrow, we’ll probably have 6,500 people illegally cross our border, just like what’s happening right now, today,” Lankford lamented. “Americans want that stopped. So let’s actually sit down and figure out how we’re going to stop it together.”
While Lankford remains resolute in his commitment to his border package, he has not yet made a decision about voting for the advancement of the standalone foreign aid package. This particular package includes assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific but does not address the immigration policy that Lankford worked extensively on.
Lankford also expressed skepticism about the outcome if the House were to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas at a later date. He believes that such a move would be “dead on arrival” in the Senate. However, he emphasized that even if Mayorkas were to leave his position, the policy would remain the same, as it is driven by the current president.
“We’re gonna have the same result because we got the same president who’s driving the policy,” Lankford stated.
In light of the opposition faced by Sen. James Lankford, it remains to be seen how the border package and the larger issue of immigration will progress. With conflicting opinions within the GOP, finding a common ground and delivering meaningful solutions to address the border crisis may prove to be a challenging task. However, Lankford’s unwavering determination to tackle this pressing issue highlights his commitment to fulfilling the American people’s expectations.
