Sen. Lindsey Graham struck a dire tone about the state of the US-Mexico border, sounding the alarm about the growing potential for another Sept. 11-caliber terrorist attack.
While giving his ominous warning, Graham (R-S.C.) mused that the odds of the Senate wrangling through a bipartisan deal on Ukraine and the border before the year’s end are pretty low.
“I’ve never been more worried about a 9/11 than I am right now and our borders have been obliterated, Graham told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.
“We’re not going to give in on some Band-Aid fix,” he added. “The bottom line here is we feel like we’re being jammed. We’re not anywhere close to a deal.”
The South Carolina senator alluded to recent warnings from FBI Director Christopher Wray that the war in Israel has produced terrorist “inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS.”
Republicans have demanded Democrats make concessions on border security in exchange for a deal on aid to Ukraine, which both sides in Congress mostly agree needs to be replenished.
Graham had been one of the most outspoken GOP proponents of Ukraine but has banded together with his fellow Republicans in wanting a supplemental aid package coupled with border security.
Last week, the House adjourned for winter break, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) revealed plans to call the upper chamber back into session this week to consider a compromise package.
Top negotiators, including Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) have indicated that immense progress has been made.
The problem is language for “immigration law is incredibly technical,” according to Lankford. In other words, drafting the bill is likely to be arduous and time-consuming.
“I think this will go into next year. I’ve been talking to the people at the table,” Graham said.
It’s not entirely clear exactly where deliberations stand, with negotiators giving mixed signals.
“We made really good progress today. We’re moving forward on big issues,” Sinema told Politico Saturday.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” Lankford told the outlet.
A major sticking point has been how to address asylum seekers. Democrats generally believe the US has a moral obligation to accept them, while Republicans argue that policy has been a big source of the migration influx.
During fiscal year 2023, more than 3.2 million encounters were reported, according to data from US Customs and Border Protection.
Last week, the White House got more involved in deliberations, dispatching Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The White House has expressed openness to a border authority to expel migrants without screenings for asylum under certain conditions when daily crossing levels are exceedingly high, the Washington Post reported.
They’ve also reportedly floated an expansion of detention facilities and a ramping up of deportations to assuage Republicans.
These reported offers have riled up numerous progressives such as Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)
Biden has dubbed the failure to pass a supplemental aid package for Ukraine a “Christmas gift” to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
The president has sought $61.4 billion for Ukraine in an overarching $106 billion package unveiled in October that also includes funding for Israel, Taiwan, and the US’ southern border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington last Tuesday and conferred with lawmakers on the Hill, but Republicans did not appear to budge on their demands for border security.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has indicated he will call the House of Representatives back into session this week if they achieve a breakthrough in negotiations.
During the interview, Graham also appeared to minimize the House GOP’s impeachment probe into Biden over his family’s alleged influence peddling that was formalized last week.
“I haven’t really been paying that much attention to it,” Graham said. “They have to prove that President Biden somehow financially benefited from the business enterprises of Hunter Biden. We’ll see.”
“If there were a smoking gun, I think we would be talking about it,” he added when asked if Republicans proved the case.
His comments highlight the latest schism between House Republicans and their Senate counterparts over the impeachment inquiry issue.
The South Carolinian also downplayed former President Donald Trump’s latest controversial remarks during a New Hampshire rally Saturday that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.”
Biden’s campaign later alleged that Trump “parroted Adolf Hitler” during that speech.
“I could care less what language people use as long as we get it right. I believe in legal immigration. I have no animosity toward people trying to come to our country,” Graham said.
“The president has a way of talking sometimes I disagree with but he actually delivered on the border. People are looking for results.”