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What New Mexico officials had to say about the failure of border and wartime aid packages
Construction of the new border wall came to a halt in early 2021 on New Mexico's southern border after an executive order was set in place by President Biden. Pictured is heavy machinery grading a road next to a newly installed border wall in Sunland Park, New Mexico.
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After months of negotiations, U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border package Wednesday, which also included $60 billion in aid for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel.
Republicans previously demanded the wartime aid be paired with border legislation meant to reduce the number of illegal border crossings.
Meanwhile, in the House, Republicans pushed a bill to provide billions in military aid for Israel without aid for Ukraine, which failed to pass Tuesday night.
What leaders said about the border package failing in the Senate
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham criticized the move.
“This is not a perfect bill — no piece of legislation is — but if Republicans truly wanted to realize the progress that we desperately need, they would have voted ‘yes’ today,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
“States like New Mexico that are the most directly affected by this crisis need solutions that encompass both humanitarian and public safety responses and provide resources to border communities.”
Sen. Ben Ray Luján
Sen. Ben Ray Luján also had harsh criticism.
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“Amid unrest around the world, there is an urgent need for a strong national security supplemental to aid our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. The world is watching and the U.S. must make it clear that our support for democracy remains steadfast,” Luján said in a statement.
“I am extremely disappointed that Congress finds itself in a position where critical national security aid is now conditioned on changes to our immigration system. And even more troubling is that Republicans refuse to take yes for an answer.
“While the immigration provisions in this supplemental are far from perfect — and I have consistently voiced concern over the lack of input from Hispanic and border-state lawmakers — I believe it is necessary for Congress to address the current situation at the border which is why I voted for this package.”
Sen. Martin Heinrich
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, issued a statement Sunday that he would support the legislation because it made the asylum process faster, invested in border security and could cut down on drug and firearm trafficking.
“To put it bluntly: Republicans chose to help Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, destabilize the Middle East, and stoke chaos and dysfunction at our southern border. All to preserve their political talking point,” Heinrich said in a statement Wednesday.
“Republicans spectacularly failed to protect the American people and made our world more dangerous. The stakes are too high to let this failure to deliver be the final word.”
New Mexico Representatives weigh in after Israel aid failed in the House
Rep. Melanie Stansbury
Rep. Melanie Stansbury said the Israel aid package leaves behind U.S. allies.
“As a world leader, the United States cannot abandon our commitment to global democracy, our allies, and humanitarian aid,” Rep. Melanie Stansbury said in a statement. “That is why today, I voted to reject the House GOP’s cynical political stunt to advance military aid to Israel while leaving behind our allies in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific and critical humanitarian aid to those who are suffering in Gaza. President Biden and House Democratic leadership have demonstrated our unequivocal commitment to global security, democracy and humanitarian assistance, and the President has stated clearly that he will veto any legislation that undermines these priorities.”
Rep. Gabe Vasquez
Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-NM, also called the supplemental a political stunt.
“Today, I voted against the political stunt put forth by House Republicans, crafted under the guise of helping Israel, but which only fuels a worsening humanitarian crisis, endangers our allies and threatens peace and stability in the Middle East,” Vasquez said in a statement.
“This conflict requires us to set aside partisanship and reach strategic, long-term solutions that achieve a two-state solution, serve U.S. interests and protect innocent lives in the region. I’m disappointed the bill today did not include much-needed humanitarian aid for innocent civilians caught in the crossfire in Israel and Gaza.”
