This Issue: House DEMs push Senate to pass amnesty through budget reconciliation

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) received the green light this week from the Senate Parliamentarian to pass multiple budget reconciliation bills this year. The ruling clears the way for Democrats to pass additional legislation that's not subject to the normal 60-vote threshold required for most legislation in the chamber.

With the Parliamentarian's ruling, House Leaders are now pressuring Senate Democratic Leaders to use the budget reconciliation process to pass an amnesty for millions of illegal aliens.

Since its creation in 1974, budget reconciliation has been used no more than once per year to pass budgetary policy in the Senate with a simple majority. But Sen. Schumer found a loophole in the process that allows the Senate to pass a revised version of the originally passed bill. Last month, Senate Democrats used the process to pass its economic stimulus and Covid relief bill with 50 votes.

The Parliamentarian's ruling increases the threat that an amnesty bill could be passed by Congress and signed into law by Pres. Biden. However, multiple factors could reduce the threat.

First, the Senate Parliamentarian could rule that budget reconciliation can't be used to pass an amnesty for illegal aliens. After all, the process is supposed to be limited to addressing budgetary concerns. But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) believes that Democrats can make an economic argument for including an amnesty. Earlier this year, the Parliamentarian did rule that budget reconciliation couldn't be used to increase the minimum wage.

Second, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is not a fan of using budget reconciliation to pass significant changes to policy. And with the Senate split 50/50, Democrats would need every Democrat to vote Yes, assuming all Senate Republicans vote No. Sen. Manchin expressed his opinion in a Washington Post op-ed this week.

I simply do not believe budget reconciliation should replace regular order in the Senate. How is that good for the future of this nation? Senate Democrats must avoid the temptation to abandon our Republican colleagues on important national issues.

-- Sen. Joe Manchin

Third, pressure from constituents, like our NumbersUSA activists, could persuade more moderate Democratic Members of Congress to oppose attaching an amnesty to a budget reconciliation bill. It is certainly possible that Sen. Manchin's statement above was influenced by his constituents. With Congress returning from a two-week recess next week, we'll be adding opportunities for you to take on your Action Board.

WORST BORDER CRISIS IN MORE THAN A DECADE

The Department of Homeland Security released March apprehension numbers this week, showing a 15-year high in known illegal border crossings.

Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 170,000 illegal border crossers, representing a 450% increase over last March. The figure was also 27% higher than the worst month (May) during the 2019 border surge under Pres. Trump and 150% higher than the worst month during the Obama Administration.

While last month's surge was driven mostly by single adults, nearly 19,000 unaccompanied alien children were apprehended after crossing the border illegally.

Historically, May is the worst month for illegal border crossings, so the crisis is expected to worsen unless the Biden Administration takes stronger steps to deter illegal immigration.

CHRIS Chmielenski NumbersUSA Deputy Director