In a recent move to break the partisan stalemate, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly spearheaded an effort with 12 Senate colleagues, urging Republican leadership to pursue bipartisan solutions to the nation's border security and immigration challenges. On Wednesday, the group addressed a letter to Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune, highlighting the necessity of collaboration to address these critical issues effectively.
In the letter, the senators called for unity and action, expressing that "Democrats and Republicans can work together on real bipartisan solutions. We can solve big challenges when we work together, and there is much work to do to improve border security, protect Dreamers and farmworkers, and fix our immigration system to better reflect the needs of our country and our modern economy." This group includes Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), and others, all of whom share a common goal of forging meaningful, bipartisan policies.
One central concern raised by the senators is the reported Republican discussions around using the budget reconciliation process to advance border security measures without input from Democratic colleagues. The letter states, "While that’s your right, in working together on a bipartisan basis, we can achieve the best outcome for the American people," as per the Senator's Office. They further express that reconciliation has its limitations, and both parties need to contribute to developing comprehensive solutions.
The letter concludes with an affirmation of the Democratic senators' readiness to collaborate with Republicans, "We remain ready to work with you in good faith to craft legislation that can achieve bipartisan support and 60 votes in the Senate," the Senator's Office noted. The urgency of addressing the pressing needs of the nation's borders, and updating the immigration system, was underscored as a priority for the 119th Congress, despite anticipated challenges.
