Asked whether the U.S. southwest border is secure, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said, “We’re certainly making every effort to make sure that is it,” but refused to answer the question directly.
At the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, CNS News asked the senator, “Should illegal aliens be given a pathway to citizenship?”
Senator Peters said, “That’s part of comprehensive immigration reform. We’re gonna have to take a look at all that.”
In a follow-up question, CNS News asked, “And is our southwest border secure now?”
“Is it secure? We’re certainly making every effort to make sure that it is,” he said.
CNS News asked again, “And is it?”
Senator Peters said, “How do you define that? Yeah, I’m not going to play that game with you.”
Senate Democrats are pursuing a pathway to citizenship for eight million illegal aliens, or “undocumented immigrants,” as part of a $3.5 trillion budget resolution funding many of President Joe Biden’s agenda items. Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said the Senate will act on the resolution before the extended August recess.
As part of the broad economic package, the Senate Judiciary Committee was charged with crafting a $120 billion bill for “making improvements on U.S. ports of entry, clearing out a backlog of visa applications, or other changes,” Bloomberg reports.
“Of the 8 million immigrants that Democrats want to aid in the economic package, 3 million would be young undocumented immigrants known as ‘Dreamers,’ migrant workers and some with “temporary protected status” because dangerous conditions present risks if they return to their home countries, the aide said,” Bloomberg reported. “The other 5 million would be ‘essential workers’ who have yet to be defined.”
Several House Democrats have said they will not support the larger economic package unless the illegal immigrant accommodations are included.