Senate Border Bill Gives Ukraine Three Times As Much Funding As Southern Border

On Sunday evening, the Senate unveiled the "bipartisan" border deal that has been under negotiation for four months to attempt to fix the widening border crisis created by President Joe Biden's inaction. The legislation, which was crafted by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Sen. Kristen Sinema (I-AZ), has been blasted for being weak on securing the southern border, giving incentives for additional migration, and providing additional funding for the war in Ukraine.

The $118 billion legislative package contributes nearly three times as much money to the war in Ukraine as to the southern border. According to the Senate bill, Ukraine would receive $60.1 billion, funding for border security would constitute $20.2 billion, Israel would receive $14.1 billion in aid, Gaza would receive $10 billion in aid, the Indo-Pacific would receive $4.8 billion in funding, and American assets in the Middle East would receive $2.4 billion in funding to counteract the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.

In addition to vastly outspending domestic issues, nearly six to one, additional funding for a border wall would only receive $650 million. The funding to secure America's southern border with Mexico is pitiful compared to the aid sent to countries overseas, and the weakness of the border legislation showcases the unwillingness of several Senate Republicans to listen to GOP voters.

The legislation has garnered significant pushback, with House leadership coming out against the package unanimously. "I've seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected and won't come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created," Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) wrote. "As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation, 'the border never closes.' If this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival."

"Let me be clear: The Senate Border Bill will NOT receive a vote in the House," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) wrote. "Here's what the people pushing this "deal" aren't telling you: It accepts 5,000 illegal immigrants a day and gives automatic work permits to asylum recipients—a magnet for more illegal immigration."

The legislation presented to the upper chamber of Congress is dead on arrival. Senate Republicans should soundly reject the bill, and President Biden should have to dig himself out of the crisis that he created. Biden has the authority necessary to secure the border without legislation that incentivizes more arrivals. Washington, D.C., is once again showing what it prioritizes, and American voters see right through it.

You can follow Sterling on X/Twitter here.