The Morning: Republicans against border enforcement

Plus, Trump, Michigan and vintage sportswear.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 7, 2024 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We're covering Republicans and the border bill — as well as Trump, Michigan and vintage sportswear. The border in December. Paul Ratje for The New York Times Harder to enter The United States has had a porous border with Mexico for decades, and the situation has worsened in the past few years, with more than 10,000 people entering the U.S. on some days. Many then remain for years, even without a visa or citizenship. Mayors, governors, and immigration experts — as well as voters — have long urged Congress to fix the problem. This week, a bipartisan group of senators released a plan for doing so. And for anybody who has grown cynical about Washington, the plan offered reasons for both surprise and further cynicism. The surprising part is that productive bipartisanship seems to be alive, even on an issue as divisive as immigration. A wide range of experts say that the Senate plan — negotiated by James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican; Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat; and Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent — would strengthen border security and reduce illegal immigration. The measure has the support of business lobbying groups as well as the organization representing the mayors of every U.S. city with a population above 30,000. The labor union for border-patrol agents, which endorsed Donald Trump in 2020, supports the plan. So do the editorial boards of The Washington Post, which leans left, and The Wall Street Journal, which is deeply conservative. "This doesn't fix everything," Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, told me, "but it goes a long way to creating an institutional structure that makes sense." What, then, is the cause for further cynicism about Washington partisanship? Despite the bill's bipartisan roots and all the praise it's received, its chances of passage look slim. Political benefits Many Republicans, including Trump and members of Congress, have decided to oppose the plan for political reasons. They think they are likely to do better in this year's elections if the immigration problem festers and they can blame Biden. "Let me tell you," Troy Nehls, a House Republican from Texas, told CNN last month, "I'm not willing to do too damn much right now to help a Democrat and to help Joe Biden's approval rating." Republicans justify their opposition mostly by pointing to one provision: an emergency measure that would forces the president to virtually shut the southern border when undocumented daily migrant encounters rise above 5,000. This measure, the critics say, would authorize 5,000 illegal entries every day. But that claim is misleading: By the same logic, the current system allows unlimited daily entries. Even more important, the Senate proposal includes many other measures to make entry harder. Among them: The bill would raise the standard for migrants to pass an initial asylum screening. Today, even many with weak asylum claims can remain in the country. The bill would also allow U.S. officials to deport more people who fail the screening within a week of their arrival. Congress would pay to hire thousands of additional border personnel and 100 more immigration judges, who in turn could reduce the backlog of cases. Faster resolution would allow admitted migrants to get on with their lives, while the government could send others home more quickly. The bill would finance the purchase of 100 new machines for detecting fentanyl at the border and increase penalties for trafficking. Separately, the bill would expand legal immigration by a modest amount and allow admitted migrants to receive work permits more quickly. (Here's a Times summary of the bill.) Together, these measures would shift the calculus for potential migrants. Because the chances of illegal entry would fall, fewer people would likely try — and more would instead try a legal pathway. Biden's border Republicans do have other legitimate reasons to criticize Democrats on immigration. Since Trump's presidency, many Democrats have embraced the idea of a more open border. If you want to understand the extent of the shift, I recommend reading the party's 2020 platform: It talks almost exclusively about steps to expand immigration, even outside of legal channels. Biden, who was once a moderate on immigration, is part of the change. As a presidential candidate, he signaled that he would welcome many more arrivals. As president, he loosened the standards for asylum. Combined with political turmoil in parts of Latin America, the strong U.S. economy and other factors, Biden's approach fed the migration surge. "There are a lot of people coming because they're pretty sure that they can get in and stay," Selee said. Now, though, Biden has recognized the downsides of his initial policies. He has embraced a bipartisan immigration bill that includes many Republican priorities and few Democratic ones. (In exchange, Democrats insisted on aid for Ukraine.) As Carl Hulse, The Times's chief Washington correspondent, put it, Democrats made "substantial — almost unheard-of — concessions on immigration policy without insisting on much in return." Republicans have largely won the recent debate over immigration. Polls show most voters prefer their approach. And nonpartisan experts say the Senate plan would improve the situation, using the policies Republicans have long advocated. Yet those same Republicans are now blocking tougher border security from becoming reality. For more Biden hopes to make Republicans pay a political price for their opposition to the border bill. In a speech, he said Trump would "rather weaponize this issue than actually solve it." "America does not need a 'border' bill that does nothing to deter illegal immigration," a Trump spokeswoman said. "We need a president who will use his executive authority to shut the border down." Lankford, the bill's lead Senate Republican negotiator, has been rebutting attacks from members of his own party while trying to keep the legislation alive. With the border deal collapsing, aid to Ukraine and Israel is also in jeopardy. Yesterday, the House failed to pass a bill that would have sent aid to Israel alone. House Republicans' effort to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden's homeland security secretary, over border policy failed after a handful of Republicans opposed it. New York's governor offered $2.4 billion to help New York City care for migrants. Mayor Eric Adams says the city needs nearly twice that amount. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Nevada Primary Nikki Haley was embarrassed in Nevada's Republican primary. Trump wasn't on the ballot, but the option for "None of These Candidates" beat her. Biden easily won Nevada's Democratic primary. Trump's Court Cases Donald Trump Doug Mills/The New York Times Trump is not immune from prosecution over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, a federal appeals court ruled. The judges rejected Trump's arguments forcefully, and while he's likely to appeal to the Supreme Court, it's not certain to take up the case. See the next steps. The judge overseeing Trump's civil fraud case is asking whether a key witness, the Trump Organization's ex-finance chief, lied during the trial. More than 60 House Republicans signed a resolution declaring that Trump's actions on Jan. 6 didn't amount to insurrection, as courts and officials weigh his eligibility to hold office. More on Politics Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, plans to step down this month. Trump is likely to back a 2020 election denier to replace her. A Texas company was behind robocalls that impersonated Biden and urged Democrats not to vote in New Hampshire's primary, the state's attorney general said. The U.S. government is putting more detained migrants in solitary confinement, an analysis found. Middle East An Israeli strike on Rafah, in southern Gaza. Mahmud Hams/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Hamas has answered a proposal that could halt fighting in the Gaza Strip, but has yet to make a deal. Israeli intelligence officers believe at least a fifth of the hostages captured during the Oct. 7 attacks have died since the start of the war. For years, Iraq has allowed armed forces tied to both the U.S. and Iran to operate on its soil. The fallout from the war in Gaza is making that even more uncomfortable. Argentina's new president, Javier Milei, visited Israel and promised to move his nation's embassy to Jerusalem. International A Russian missile and drone attack on Ukrainian cities killed at least five people, local officials said. Kenyan authorities charged a cult leader, who they say ordered followers to starve themselves to death, with the murder of 191 children. Sebastián Piñera, a former president of Chile who helped strengthen its democracy, died in a helicopter crash at 74. One year after an earthquake in southern Turkey, survivors are still displaced and struggling with injuries. The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, helped push Hungary to go along with a landmark Ukraine fund. That has solidified her credentials in Europe. Business Four bolts appeared to be missing from the Alaska Airlines plane that lost a door plug mid-flight. The F.A.A. said it would increase monitoring of Boeing, which made the plane. Major U.S. companies including McDonald's and Costco said they are taking steps to eliminate child labor in their domestic supply chains. Other Big Stories Jennifer Crumbley Bill Pugliano/Getty Images The mother of a Michigan school gunman was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter over her son's killings. The conviction offers prosecutors a new tactic in mass shooting cases. Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, said he would interview Vladimir Putin in Russia. A report into a wildfire that destroyed the Hawaiian town of Lahaina six months ago found a third of the victims lived on a single street. Read more takeaways. Opinions The MAGA right's conspiratorial feud with Taylor Swift shows how weird the movement has become, David French writes. Here are columns by Thomas Edsall on Biden vs. Trump and Bret Stephens on colonialism. Discover more of the insight you value in The Morning. The Times is filled with information and inspiration every day. So gain unlimited access to everything we offer — and save with this introductory offer. MORNING READS In Abidjan.  Joao Silva/The New York Times A pair of lêkê: In Ivory Coast, plastic sandals are the preferred gear for pickup soccer — and almost everything else. Staying power: Los Angeles has struggled to establish lasting dance companies. Several young outfits are trying hard to change that. Commiserating: Hundreds of journalists have been laid off in the last month. Last week, they gathered to grieve at the National Press Club. Lives Lived: Clyde Taylor was a leading figure in Black studies in the 1970s and '80s, identifying and elevating Black cinema as an art form. He died at 92. SPORTS Teaming up: ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery are joining forces to create a sports streaming app, expected to launch in the fall. M.L.B.: Clayton Kershaw will return to the Dodgers next year. He spent the offseason deciding between Los Angeles and the Rangers, his hometown team. Basketball: Caitlin Clark's competitiveness, no-look passes and 3-point bombs have made Iowa games a must-see. What happens when she leaves? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Vintage sportswear for sale. Lanna Apisukh for The New York Times Fan favorites: Google search interest in vintage N.F.L. items has nearly quadrupled in the last year — with the most intense interest in Missouri, home of the Kansas City Chiefs (and Taylor Swift's boyfriend). The market for vintage sports apparel is growing, as fans seek looks that stand out. "If you have a grandpa or grandma who is a sports fan, and they have a piece from when they were growing up, that is something you have to get your hands on," said Lily Shimbashi of Sportsish, a pop-culture newsletter and podcast for female sports fans. "That is so valuable right now." More on culture Elon Musk is funding the wrongful termination lawsuit of an actress who was dropped from "The Mandalorian" after she posted baseless conspiracy theories on social media. "It was a devastating moment for Trump, especially when Melania started clapping": The late night hosts joked about the immunity ruling. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Christopher Testani for The New York Times Feed a crowd with the cheesy, crunchy Tex-Mex classic known as Frito Pie. Clean your ears without cotton swabs. Stop mindlessly scrolling on your phone. Declutter your fridge. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangrams were coffined, confide, confided, confidence and confined. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018