Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) was cornered on CNN Monday by anchor Boris Sanchez about whether he will support the Senate border reform compromise deal, as the lawmaker refused to rule out voting for it but continually suggested he was skeptical.
The deal, which has been endorsed by President Joe Biden and was brokered with bipartisan support, hasn't been released publicly in its entirety, but appears to include a number of key concessions to Republicans, including a requirement to restrict border entry when migration levels reach a certain threshold.
Former President Donald Trump is trying to quash GOP support for the deal, apparently fearful of the consequences of Biden making progress on one of his core campaign issues.
"I am curious, it sounds like you're open to this bill," said Sanchez. "What would you say to President Trump, who argues it's not necessary?"
"We haven't seen the bill text," said Pfluger. "What I will point you to is May of 2023, last year, the committee I serve on, Homeland Security, passed H.R. 2, which is an incredible border security package, and we sent it to the Senate ... why has Senator Schumer not taken that up? Why has he not prioritized? I would ask President Biden, is it because we are in an election year that we get to a point where this matters? We have a bill, we sent it there, it is a good bill, and we need action from the Senate and the president."
"Well, I think they have issues with that bill for a number of reasons, the way it targets humanitarian groups and such," said Sanchez. "But I think the counterpoint is that they are willing to move forward on things that would restrict immigration without asking for things that Democrats historically have asked for, for Dreamers or so-called amnesty. That is the reason that Donald Trump tanked the immigration deal in 2018.
"Are you concerned that passing on this offer from Democrats to move forward on something that Republicans want could ultimately doom you down the road?"
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Pfluger replied that what matters to him right now is "shutting the border down. This is an issue throughout the United States, regardless of which party you support ... people believe you should have a strong border."
He added that, "Immigration reform needs to happen, but we are so egregiously missing the point from the administration's perspective. This is why we will move forward with the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas, because he has missed the mark on keeping our country safe."
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Boris Sanchez grills August Pfluger on border dealwww.youtube.com
