Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' gets boost from LA immigration protests
The protests in Los Angeles over the White House’s deportation efforts are providing a boost to the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill” as members come under pressure to approve fresh immigration enforcement funding or risk appearing on the side of California Democrats.
The White House and administration allies are using the protests to push members to line up behind the massive piece of legislation, highlighting the package’s border provisions while making the case that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) needs an infusion of support.
“It's been a high priority before what happened in Los Angeles, and I think the American people are seeing firsthand what happens when lawlessness rules the streets and you're undercutting the very important mission of ICE,” Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), a top ally of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), said.
“It helps illustrate the consequences of not having ICE fully supported, whether that is supported by government officials, as well as the needed financial support to make sure they have the capacity to do their job,” Daines added.
Senate Republicans are in the midst of a key week in the process of passing the bill — the linchpin of the party’s overall agenda — with an eye toward completing work by July 4. Though leaders are hoping to roll out key portions of the bill, deep divisions remain on crucial issues including taxes, deficit reduction, Medicaid and more.
But most Senate Republicans have long agreed that border provisions are a crucial part of the bill. Earlier this year, as Senate Republicans pushed an alternative two-bill approach, they included immigration funding in what would have been the first of two bills, aiming to quickly get it to........
© The Hill
