Steve Daines, chair of Senate GOP’s campaign arm, blasts border security deal

Sen. Steve Daines, the Montana Republican whose job is to get Senate GOP candidates elected, came out in opposition Monday to a southern border security deal with Democrats tied to a $118 billion aid package with money for Ukraine and Israel. 

The disapproval from Mr. Daines, the highest-ranking leadership member so far to oppose the legislation, underscored the long odds that it can garner enough bipartisan support to pass the Senate. 

“Fixing this crisis demands more than the ‘border never closes’ policy that was negotiated. This bill also provides no guarantee that the president will enforce existing law, let alone new ones,” said Mr. Daines, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“Finally, with House Republicans united in opposition to this bill it makes no sense to even bring it up in the Senate,” he said. 

In another gut punch to supporters of the deal, Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican and an adviser to leadership, said in a brief statement he had “questions and serious concerns.”

The Senate will need 60 votes on Wednesday to clear a procedural hurdle on the measure. But with Senate progressives also balking at the deal, as many as two dozen Republicans could be needed — an unlikely scenario, given the early number of misgivings. 

Architects of the border provisions say the bill would end the cycle of catch-and-release of those who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally that’s created chaos under President Biden.

The bill would expand the government’s deportation force, speed up immigration court hearings and give Mr. Biden new powers to block illegal immigrants at the border, though only after the flow averages more than 4,000 migrants a day.

The broad deal would also expand legal immigration by 50,000 spaces a year, grant immediate work permits to undocumented immigrants and create a pathway to citizenship for tens of thousands of Afghans left behind after the U.S. withdrew in 2021. 

Senate leaders from both parties — including Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — have signed off on the deal, as well as Mr. Biden and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. 

Vice President Kamala Harris offered lukewarm backing, while Speaker Mike Johnson said it’s dead on arrival with House Republicans. The Senate’s left wing has also lined up in opposition. 

Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla of California and Bob Menendez of New Jersey slammed negotiators for excluding the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.