Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz has voiced strong objections against a clause in the newly proposed $118 billion bipartisan Senate bill on immigration and foreign aid.
Centralized Court Authority
This provision would limit legal challenges to the bill to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, effectively centralizing legal authority.
Sole Jurisdiction
The bill specifies that the U.S. District Court in D.C. will have “sole and original jurisdiction” over disputes, a move Cruz argues would diminish Texas’ ability to contest federal actions on a local level.
Legal Action Disadvantage
In an interview with Newsweek, Cruz expressed concerns that this change would disadvantage Texas in legal battles against the Biden administration,
Texas will Lose
“Instead, these cases would have to be heard in Washington, where Texas will almost certainly lose thanks to a superabundance of liberal judges. This, of course, is by design because the Biden Administration is tired of losing in Texas district courts and the Fifth Circuit,” Cruz stated.
Enforcement Authority
The Emergency National Security Supplemental Bill, unveiled on Monday following discussions among a bipartisan group of Senators, defines the legal authority for its enforcement.
Jurisdiction Defined
The provision states, “The United States District Court for the District of Columbia shall have sole and original jurisdiction to hear challenges, whether constitutional or otherwise, to the validity of this section or any written policy directive, written policy guideline, written procedure, or the implementation thereof.”
“This is Unacceptable”
Governor Greg Abbott responded to the bill’s provision by posting an article along with the message, “This is unacceptable.”
Bill’s Funding
The bill proposes substantial investments in border control and international military aid, including support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Removing Illegal Immigrants
It would also enable the federal government to deport illegal immigrants with limited legal recourse if the daily average number of crossings exceeds 5,000 or if there are more than 8,500 crossings in a single day.
“Dead on Arrival”
Despite these efforts, it faces opposition from House Republicans, with Speaker Mike Johnson declaring it “dead on arrival.”
Bill’s Prospects
Senator Cruz voiced his opposition to the bill on Monday, stating that its prospects for passage were nil. He highlighted the Speaker of the House’s firm stance that the Senate bill would be immediately rejected upon arrival in the House.
Divisive Strategy
He questioned the reasoning behind advancing a bill that would only serve to divide Republicans while uniting Senate Democrats.
Call for McConnell’s Resignation
On Tuesday, Cruz and other Republican senators called for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was part of the bipartisan team responsible for drafting the final bill, to resign.
Time to Stepdown
When asked by a reporter if it’s time for McConnell to step down, Cruz replied, ‘I think it is.
No Response
Cruz mentioned that McConnell remained silent when confronted with the question, “Is there anything we are willing to fight on?” during the closed-door border negotiation discussions that began in December.
Trump Era Measures
The Texas senator asserted that the border legislation would only succeed as part of the national supplemental package if the Senate approved H.R.2, the immigration bill passed by the GOP-led House last year. This bill contains expulsions and security measures reminiscent of those from the Trump era.
Nonstarter Bill
However, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has already declared this bill a “nonstarter” in the Senate.
Republican Reversal
Schumer accused the Senate Republican leadership of reversing their stance on legislation they had previously helped to draft.
Fear of Trump
He said, “Leader McConnell and the Republican Conference did a 180-degree reversal. They’re quaking at the knees in fear of Donald Trump.”
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