US Border Battle: Republicans Issue Ultimatum On Migrant Crisis
Biden administration files new suit against Texas migrant crackdown
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up!
Good morning,
We’ve been back at work for three days, but if you’re already dreaming of retirement, there’s a new study that looks at where you can get the most for your money.
That study looks at how long $1 million in retirement savings lasts in every state— and where it runs out the fastest, focusing on housing, utilities, groceries, health care and transportation costs. Bottom line: $1 million would go the furthest in Mississippi, lasting about 22 years, but the shortest in Hawaii at 10 years.
At this rate, we’ll be moving in with our kids 🛋.
Have a good one!
Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren
🗞 BORDER SHOWDOWN COULD LEAD TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Migrants are gathered in Eagle Pass, Texas, in December. Via: ABC News
The Justice Department on Wednesday sued Texas over a new law that lets state and local police arrest migrants who illegally cross the border. It’s the latest battle between the Biden administration and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) over immigration as a record number of migrants surge into the United States.
Meanwhile, the Biden Administration is reopening border crossings for commercial and legal travel today at four US-Mexico ports of entry that had been closed due to record levels of migrant crossings in December.
U.S. officials say they’re opening the crossings because of a marked drop in illegal border entries. Those crossings were closed for most of last month as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shifted resources and personnel to respond to the migrant influx. It also put pressure on Mexico to do more to stem the flow of migrants.
HOUSE GOP HEADS TO BORDER
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and 60+ GOP House members went to one of those sites yesterday in Eagle Pass, TX, and criticized the Biden administration for “mayhem” at the border. Even as lawmakers were on the ground, migrants were seen crossing into the US from Mexico (below).
ULTIMATUM: FUNDING ON THE LINE
Democrats and Republicans agree that there is a crisis, but remain divided on how to solve it.
Some far-right GOP members are threatening to shut down parts of the government (Jan. 19 is the first of two funding deadlines) unless the border is “shut down.” Though Johnson and other leaders will not go that far.
Johnson is pushing for a bill called H.R. 2, would revive many of the policies pursued by former President Trump.
That includes building more of the border wall and impose new restrictions on asylum seekers.
Hanging in the balance: President Biden’s bill that calls for billions in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan— that also includes $14 billion in border assistance.
Johnson also called on Biden to take executive action on the border, deport people caught crossing illegally, and reinstitute a Trump-era policy of keeping migrants in Mexico until their day in immigration court.
Far-right member Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) told reporters: “Shut the border down or shut the government down.” While Johnson does not agree with him, he only can lose two votes in the House right now if he wants to pass a funding bill, meaning Johnson will need to win enough concessions on the border to get Biggs and colleagues to help him prevent a government shutdown.
Over in the Senate, negotiators haven’t been able to reach an agreement on new border security measures.
📈 NUMBERS AT THE BORDER
Legal border crossings will resume today in Eagle Pass, TX; San Ysidro, CA; Lukeville and Nogales, AZ.
There were about 302,000 encounters along the southwest border in December, marking the highest monthly total ever recorded.
Help from Mexican authorities have brought the number down in recent weeks from 10,000 migrant encounters a day to around 2,500.
Beyond the Border: Cities across the US are seeking billions of dollars to help house migrants.
STATES VS. FEDS
The Democratic governor of Arizona says the ports of entry should never have been closed by the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the Republican Texas governor is fighting the White House on several immigration enforcement measures.
Texas has challenged the federal government’s sole authority over international borders with its $10 billion Operation Lone Star.
A federal appeals court temporarily blocked feds from destroying razor wire fence that Texas placed along its border — now the Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to weigh in.
As we mentioned above, the federal government is now suing Texas over a law allowing state officials to arrest and deport migrants suspected of illegally crossing the border.
All in all, the Biden administration and many Democrats have moved closer to Republicans on many immigration issues.
ANOTHER IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY?
Yep, this time it’s Republicans looking to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas over the border crisis. The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on allegations on Jan. 10.
The Department of Homeland Security responded, arguing Republicans are “pursuing a baseless political exercise that has been rejected by members of both parties and already failed on a bipartisan vote.”
✔︎ Mo News Reality Check: Only one cabinet official has ever been impeached in American history - Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876. A simple majority would be required to impeach Mayorkas, though there’s a zero chance of a conviction/removal by the US Senate with Democrats in charge there. (Belknap was also not convicted.)
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Trump appeals ruling barring him from the Colorado ballot to the U.S. Supreme Court (NPR)
📌 Jeffrey Epstein documents unsealed (POLITICO)
📌 Hoax bomb threats sent to state capitols around the country (ABC NEWS)
📌 Biden-Harris to hold first 2024 campaign event on Jan 6, casting Trump as threat to democracy (NBC NEWS)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 Over 100 people killed in bomb blasts near Iran general Qasem Soleimani's tomb (BBC)
📌 Japan says Coast Guard plane apparently not cleared for take-off before runway collision (REUTERS)
📌 Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners in biggest swap of war (AXIOS)
📌 Thousands of doctors in Britain walk off the job in their longest-ever strike (AP)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 New antibiotic uses novel method to target deadly drug-resistant bacteria, study says (CNN)
📌 Ford recalls nearly 113,000 F-150 pickups over rear axle problem (CBS NEWS)
📌 Activist hedge fund fight within Disney heats up (AXIOS)
📌 Giant offshore wind project axed in blow to Biden's green goals (FOX NEWS)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 A 13-year-old in Oklahoma may be the 1st person to beat Tetris (NPR)
📌 Meet the newest breed to join the American Kennel Club, a little dog with a big smile (AP)
📌 Jimmy Kimmel fires back at Aaron Rodgers after comment on Jeffrey Epstein's alleged associates (CBS NEWS)
📌 Britney Spears says she will never return to music (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: JANUARY 4
1936: The first pop music chart based on national record sales was published by Billboard magazine.
1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined the goals of his “Great Society.”
1983: Eurythmics released their second studio album ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’.
Are we the only ones who thought the words were ‘Sweet Dreams Are Made of THESE’?
2010: Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.