In a politically charged atmosphere, the White House has demonstrated resistance to a Republican bill aimed at restricting migrant housing on federal lands.
The Biden administration's opposition to a House Republican bill, which seeks to curtail federal funding for housing migrants on federal lands, adds another layer to the ongoing border crisis debate.
The proposed legislation, brought forward by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and backed by several fellow Republicans, is set to abolish a lease that currently permits New York City to use Floyd Bennett Field as a migrant shelter.
The White House's stance on the bill indicates a clear policy divergence between the Democrats and their Republican counterparts.
Rep. Malliotakis has expressed her belief that the border crisis has been exacerbated under President Joe Biden's administration. The Representative argues that the use of public spaces and taxpayer dollars to sustain the crisis is unjust.
Despite the House's expected passage of the bill this week, its survival in the Democrat-controlled Senate is uncertain.
The contentious issue of border security is currently entangled with discussions about funding for international partners such as Israel and Ukraine.
These debates are happening against the backdrop of an increase in migrant crossings at the southern border, which registered a record high in October.
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has called for immediate action, citing this surge in crossings.
"Last month’s total southern border encounters marked the busiest October in decades of [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] records. And the harsh reality of the Biden Administration’s border crisis continues to impact millions of Americans in cities across the country."
The journey of the proposed bill began in August when Rep. Malliotakis introduced it. The bill was then passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee in the same month.
In November, the White House officially opposed the legislation. Despite this, the House is anticipated to pass the bill sometime this week.
While the debates about linking border security funds to aid for Israel and Ukraine continue, the issue of migrant crossings remains a pressing concern.
The Biden administration has expressed its opposition to the bill, arguing that it would severely limit the capacity of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to make informed decisions about their lands and resources, even in emergencies.
However, Rep. Malliotakis argued that President Biden's policies had triggered the border crisis. He said, "Not only did President [Joe] Biden create this crisis, but he unfairly wants to continue taking tax dollars and public spaces like Floyd Bennett Field from citizens to perpetuate it."
The upcoming House vote on the Republican bill to block migrant housing on federal lands will undoubtedly spark further discussions on border security, federal funding, and the role of public lands. Whether the bill will survive the Democrat-led Senate and become law remains to be seen.
