(NewsNation) — House Republican leadership put out a statement Monday slamming immigration measures included in a $118 billion package senators unveiled Sunday that also includes aid for Israel and Ukraine.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik and Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota said they oppose the legislation because “it fails in every policy area needed to secure our border and would actually incentivize more illegal immigration.”
The package, which would overhaul the asylum system with tougher standards and faster enforcement, came under criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. In their statement, House GOP leaders said the legislation is still “riddled with loopholes” that grant too much “discretionary authority” to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Sen. James Lankford, one of the principal Republican authors of the $118 billion package, said both those on the “very far left” and “very far fight” have been “attacking it like crazy.”
While Lankford acknowledged it wouldn’t accomplish every item the GOP wanted on border security, the legislation “deals with the most essential elements.”
“I understand there are some people that say ‘I want everything or I want nothing,’ but there’s also a lot of people in America, and a lot of people in Congress that say, ‘Why would we not make progress when we have the opportunity to make progress?'” Lankford said in an interview with NewsNation.
However, House Republicans warned the bill would be “dead on arrival” in their chamber.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.