The GOP’s border ‘to do’ list

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Jan 09, 2025 View in browser   By Daniella Diaz Presented by  With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team There’s a slew of immigration bills that House Republicans have already telegraphed they plan to push through the new Congress. | Francis Chung/POLITICO WHAT REPUBLICANS WILL PUSH ON IMMIGRATION NEXT Congressional Republicans are seeing success with their push of the Laken Riley Act, putting Democrats on a back foot on immigration and possibly clearing a long-coming policy priority next week. They’re not going to stop there. There’s a slew of immigration bills that House Republicans have already telegraphed they plan to push through the new Congress, all of which they passed last term on a bipartisan basis but the Democratic-controlled Senate blocked. Those bills, which were part of a rules package meant to fast-track the votes in the House, include: A bill led by Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) that would withhold federal funding that goes to so-called sanctuary cities for undocumented immigrants (it passed in 2024, 12 Democrats backed it). A bill from Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) bill that would make the assault of a law enforcement officer a deportable offense (it passed in 2023, 36 Democrats supported it). A bill from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) that would make sexual and domestic violence deportable offenses (it passed in 2024, 51 Democrats backed it). A bill from Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) that would create new criminal and immigration penalties for intentionally fleeing police while operating a motor vehicle (a version passed in 2024, 56 Democrats supported it). All of those have a shot at Senate passage. Once Sen.-elect Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) takes office next week, Republicans only need seven Democratic senators to help them avoid a filibuster. And there are plenty of at-risk Democrats who don’t want to give Republicans a free shot to hit them on border issues. Don’t forget the Big Bill: House Republicans plan to move their big border plan, known colloquially on the Hill as H.R. 2, through committee again in an effort to send it to the Senate as soon as possible, Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said in an interview Thursday. Remember, this bill wasn’t easy to steer in the last Congress — two Republicans voted against it and no Democrats supported it. Still, Jordan said he’s "feeling optimistic" that Democrats might join the debate, pointing specifically to Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) speaking out in favor of the Laken Riley Act. We’d note that it’s much easier to get support on a narrowly tailored bill vs. a comprehensive piece of immigration legislation that doesn’t currently include any sweeteners for Democrats. The caveat: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the sole remaining House Republican who didn’t vote for H.R. 2. His office didn’t respond to a request for comment. Depending on timing, Speaker Mike Johnson could need unanimous GOP support. But that’s a future speaker problem. Other paths: Remember, this is all outside the major, party-line bill that Republicans plan to pass via budget reconciliation. That will certainly include other border security measures, but under the rules of that process the provisions have to be more budget-related than policy-related. Plus, President-elect Donald Trump will likely have executive orders on immigration and the border within his first weeks, if not his first day. Trump’s closest immigration adviser, Stephen Miller, told senators at a meeting Wednesday that the Trump administration is planning a slew of actions on immigration, including reinstating Title 42, Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy and directing relevant agencies to continue building the southern border wall. — Daniella Diaz, with assist from Hailey Fuchs   A message from Delta: SALUTING A LIFE OF SERVICE. On behalf of the entire Delta family, we celebrate the life of former President Jimmy Carter. Personifying philanthropy, he dedicated his life to helping those in need and showed us all how to properly treat our fellow humans – even shaking hands with every customer every time he flew Delta. Rest in peace, President Carter. Your legacy lives on. We’ll all be better off following the example you leave behind.   GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, Jan. 9, where we’re already done with the cold weather. TRUMP’S WILDFIRE DRAMA California Democrats are worried Trump is going to make disaster aid political again. “Even if we nominally secure some of these things, the money won't flow until Trump is president. And he's just such a wild card, there's reason for worry,” said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.). Trump is blaming California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s water policies for the deadly wildfires that have destroyed areas of Los Angeles County — and previously has threatened to withhold disaster aid from blue states like California. Congress just passed disaster aid in December, and lawmakers are already expecting they’ll need to clear more in mid-March, when the next government funding deadline hits. Democrats aren’t sounding any alarms yet. Many California lawmakers told us they were hopeful their Republican colleagues would be ready to help — many like Reps. Young Kim and Doug LaMalfa have already expressed the topic should remain bipartisan. “If you kind of look at the last four years, though, under the previous Trump administration, you saw Gov. Newsom know how to handle President Trump,” Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) said. “In the sense that, fight him where they need to fight him, but also work with them when we need things out of them.” — Mia McCarthy TRUMP MEETINGS ON DECK House Republicans will descend on Mar-a-Lago for face time with Trump this weekend to discuss the legislative priorities for Congress. We’ll see if they get more clarity on a one- vs. two-track plan. Color us skeptical. Trump has repeatedly said he prefers the one big bill, but that he’s open to two. A Wednesday meeting with GOP senators, many of whom have pushed the two-track plan, didn’t change his tune. What we’re watching for: Several Freedom Caucus members are still planning to raise the benefits of a two-track approach with Trump, despite Johnson pushing hard for one. These are big Trump loyalists, so if they can’t get him to change course, it’s a major sign he’s not moving. That means it will be on Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to work out the best course. Here’s when those meetings are happening, and who’s going: Friday: House Freedom Caucus members will meet with Trump for dinner. Saturday: The New York, New Jersey, California Republicans (the lawmakers who want to adjust the state and local tax deduction) will meet with Trump in the early evening. House Republican committee chairs will also meet with Trump for dinner. Sunday: Business-focused Main Street Caucus leaders – Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) and Mike Flood (R-Neb.) – and other Republicans in the group will meet with Trump for dinner. — Meredith Lee Hill and Daniella Diaz   A message from Delta:   HUDDLE HOTDISH Don Bacon had some beef with election forecasters. We would also like to be the pope of Greenland. The House Chaplain prayed for the people affected by the wildfires today. Looks like a lot of folks are sick today. QUICK LINKS  Gingrich predicts Johnson will be Speaker for six years, from Mychael Schnell and Judy Kurtz at The Hill Background check delays Rollins confirmation hearing, from Meredith Lee Hill Immigration firebrand takes reins of the Hispanic Caucus, from Rafael Bernal at The Hill   A message from Delta: SALUTING A LIFE OF SERVICE. On behalf of the entire Delta family, we celebrate the life of former President Jimmy Carter. He was a great friend, loving family man and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who reached the highest levels of public service as Georgia governor and then as U.S. president. His commitment to organizations such as The Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity International proves volunteerism knows no borders. Personifying philanthropy, he dedicated his life to helping those in need and showed us all how to properly treat our fellow humans – even shaking hands with every customer every time he flew Delta. Rest in peace, President Carter. Your legacy lives on. We’ll all be better off following the example you leave behind.   TRANSITIONS  Blake Kernen is now press secretary for Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). She was most recently press secretary for Gov. Larry Hogan’s (R-Md.) Senate campaign. Sutton Houser is now communications director for Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Texas). He previously was manager of external relations at the American Enterprise Institute. Jonathan Tsentas is now legislative director for Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). He previously was a professional staff member for the Senate Banking Committee. Ethan Cesar will be press assistant for Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.). He previously worked for Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.). Liz O’Bagy is joining TechNet as a director of federal policy and AI policy lead. She previously was senior foreign policy adviser to Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.). Naomi Zeigler is now economic policy adviser for Sen. Angus King (I-Maine). She most recently was director of intergovernmental affairs at the Commerce Department, and is an OMB and Tom Carper alum. Amanda Farnan is now communications director for Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.). She previously was digital director for Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). Laura Epstein will be staff director for the Joint Economic Committee Democrats under ranking member Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.). She previously was communications director for Hassan. Jessica Merritt is now legislative director for Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.). She previously was legislative director for Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.). TOMORROW IN CONGRESS The House and Senate are out. FRIDAY AROUND THE HILL Jet fumes and snow showers. TRIVIA WEDNESDAY’S ANSWER: Andrew Stahovec was the first to correctly guess that George Washington is the namesake of the highest mountain in the “First in the Nation” presidential primary state of New Hampshire. TODAY’S QUESTION, from Andrew: Who was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to insidecongress@politico.com. GET INSIDE CONGRESS emailed to your phone each evening.   Follow us

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