Third Way Statement on Bipartisan Senate Border Security Deal

WASHINGTON—Third Way released the following statement from Lanae Erickson, Senior Vice President for Social Policy, Education & Politics:

“The current situation at the southern border is unsustainable. We applaud Senators Murphy, Sinema, and Lankford, and the Biden Administration, for their tireless work over the past few months to craft a bipartisan historic border security deal. It’s an essential step toward restoring order at border and fixing our immigration system. Immigration is a top priority issue for voters, and we urge both Democrats and Republicans to support this tough and fair deal.

“The bipartisan border deal would allow the President to temporarily close the southern border between ports of entry when border agents get overwhelmed by the number of migrant encounters, to ensure smugglers can’t create chaos and rig our system. This would be the strictest border security measure ever. It would also reform our asylum process, surging resources and personnel to the border to decrease wait times for cases so that decisions are fast, fair, and final. These cases can currently take years to be heard, which is unfair to migrants and bad for America. The deal would also make it easier for migrants to get work permits so they can support themselves and their families while waiting for their case to be heard.

“Republicans say they are serious about securing the border, here’s the test to prove it’s not all talk. If anyone in Congress is opposing this because of presidential politics then they have lost the meaning of public service and putting country ahead of party. They should support this deal and pass it immediately. Border security is a serious issue that needs serious solutions now. This deal doesn’t address all the problems in our immigration system, but it’s a good and essential first step. We look forward to President Biden’s signing of the bill so that we can restore an orderly process and enforce the laws of the land.”