House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed skepticism about a deal being worked out in the Senate to merge border and migration policy changes with aid to Ukraine. He said the time is not right for comprehensive immigration reform. During a press conference this Wednesday morning (17), Johnson acknowledged the debate surrounding the agreement, but highlighted that he had not yet seen a final proposal, and was eager to examine the text.
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However, he rejected the idea of making “comprehensive” changes to immigration, considering it a complex issue that requires time to be carefully approached. Johnson emphasized the immediate need to secure the border, referring to the H.R. 2 migration and border policy bill passed by the House the previous year. Johnson’s comments came before a meeting at the White House, which he attended along with other congressional leaders and President Biden. A bipartisan group of senators has been working on a deal that aims to combine changes to border and migration policies with assistance for Ukraine.
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The agreement is expected to include modifications to asylum policy, although the issue of parole represents a significant obstacle in the negotiations. Negotiators have indicated that the package will not be treated as comprehensive immigration reform, and proposals such as a new path to citizenship were quickly dismissed.
Johnson reiterated the importance of all policy elements of H.R. 2, including reviving the “remain in Mexico” asylum policy, reforming the parole process, and continuing to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He emphasized that one cannot select specific items from this set and expect to solve the problem, arguing that it is necessary to address all of these elements to effectively reduce the migration flow. The president, in turn, maintained his position on aid to Ukraine, stating that he wants changes in border policy, information about the strategy in Ukraine and clarification on how the aid will be accounted for. Johnson stressed the need to address domestic issues, especially border protection, before considering other actions. Johnson had previously urged President Biden to take executive action on border and migration policies.