Senate Democrats have already threatened a government shutdown over the border wall that Mexico is not paying for (adios, Meals on Wheels). Now they’ve got some legislation to get behind:
Twenty-four Democrats — spearheaded by Sen. Tom Carper (Del.) — are introducing legislation that would rescind Trump's executive order on border security and "immigration enforcement improvements."
"Spending billions of taxpayer dollars to wall off the remainder of the border is an exorbitantly expensive and an ineffective substitute for a smart, layered approach to border security," Carper said in a statement Thursday.
Democrats have been critical of Trump's immigration policies, arguing a string of high-profile raids have sparked fear within immigrant communities.
According to recent reports, even “Republicans are showing increasing reluctance to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border,” with key Republicans expressing “concerns this week about who would foot the bill for the wall, with some bluntly voicing doubts that Mexico will cover it, as Trump has vowed. “ Took long enough, guys.
While the proposed legislation would need support from 12 Republicans in order “to overcome the Senate’s 60-vote threshold,” Senate Democrats do have some pretty significant leeway when it comes to blocking money for the wall in a separate government funding fight:
Congress needs to pass the appropriations bills by April 28 to keep the government open. Democrats can block the Department of Homeland Security funding in a filibuster. A delay that lasts beyond April 28 will lead to a shutdown of the department.
On Wednesday, one senior GOP congressional aide told Politico a shutdown fight “looks like it probably is going to happen."