The Senate is voting on a sweeping election reform bill. Democrats say it would protect voting rights. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says, “It’s a vote on whether the Senate should simply debate the issue of voting rights, the crucial issue of voting rights in this country.” But Republicans say it would be federal overreach. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell counters by saying: “They’ve made it abundantly clear that the real driving force behind S. 1 is a desire to rig the rules of American elections permanently—permanently in Democrats’ favor.” It’s unlikely to get the 10 Republican votes it needs to move forward.
Debates around the border crisis continue. Over 50 House Republicans are calling on President Joe Biden to replace Vice President Kamala Harris as “border czar.” They noted Harris hasn’t yet visited the border amid a surge in illegal immigration. They also cited recent Customs and Border Protection data that shows that 180,000 people were apprehended last month after crossing the border illegally.
The Biden administration reverses more Trump-era border policies. They just reversed two attorney general decisions made under Trump, changing how migrants can get asylum. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a new directive to immigration judges to stop following the two rules. This means it is now easier for migrants to secure asylum if they claim they face domestic violence or gang violence.
A group of 12 Republican senators is asking a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief to release Biden’s immigration overhaul blueprint. They’re calling on DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to immediately release the 46-page draft.
Nebraska is sending troops to the U.S.–Mexico border to help law enforcement there. The governors of Arizona and Texas asked 48 states for help at the U.S.–Mexico Border. Soon after, Florida answered their calls—and now, so is Nebraska. On June 19, Governor Pete Ricketts announced Nebraska will send around 25 state patrol troopers to Del Rio, Texas, later in June.
Tune into Deep Dive as we explore these topics and more.
