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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-C., said Tuesday that the upcoming Republican Senate will make a “transformative” border security bill a “top priority” in 2025 as immigration remains a top political issue in 2025
“In January 2025, the Republican Senate will make its top priority a transformative border security bill that will be taken up and passed by the budget committee,” said Graham, who has been involved in several bipartisan efforts on immigration, in a Senate. Hearing of the Judicial Commission.
Graham made it clear that priorities for the GOP-controlled chamber will be related to increased border security and deportation goals already outlined by Trump’s transition team.
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“Increasing the number of places available to detain people instead of releasing them,” Graham said. “Increase the number of ICE agents to deal with people who should be deported. Finish the wall and put technology on the border so we have operational control of the border.”
“That will be our top priority,” he said, saying he would “go first” through reconciliation.
Immigration and border security were two of the top issues among voters during the 2024 campaign, and President-elect Trump won the contest in part by promising a mass deportation campaign and increase border security.
Republicans in the House and Senate have expressed support for these efforts, and many lawmakers made that clear in their campaigns. While much of the deportation operation can be accomplished through executive action, Congress can help by providing additional resources as well as changes to immigration law.
Republicans passed a broad asylum and border security reform bill in the House – HR 2 – in 2023, but it has not taken up the Senate, which is currently controlled by Democrats. Democrats had pushed a separate bipartisan border security bill this year, which included increased funding for border agencies. However, Republicans largely opposed the bill because of inclusions they said would codify high levels of illegal immigration.
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Graham’s comments came at a hearing focused on the potential impacts of a mass deportation operation. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., pointed to what he said would be the impact on prices if illegal immigrants they were deported in significant numbers.
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“Prices will go up and up and up. So, hey America, get ready for a higher food bill when you prepare next year’s Thanksgiving dinner or this year’s Christmas dinner coming. And if you’ve been saving for years and years trying to buy your first home, be prepared to wait even longer because construction will slow and prices will rise,” he said.