"Republicans Warn GOP About Political Perils Of Border Crisis Inaction"

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Republicans Warn GOP About Political Perils Of Border Crisis Inaction

by Sam Stein and Elise Foley at the Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/10/republicans-border-crisis_n_5575399.html

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WASHINGTON -- As the political world grapples with how to respond to the current crisis on the nation's border, several Republicans have begun warning fellow party members that doing nothing but opposing the president carries substantial political risks.

At issue is President Barack Obama's request for $3.7 billion to increase deportations, add border agents and expand care for the tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors who have traveled to the country from Central America. The administration has pitched this as the first step to address the massive spike of unaccompanied minors streaming to the border. Congressional Republicans, in part, have responded by denouncing it as a "blank check," adding that they won't approve funding unless Obama ramps up deportations and approves changes to laws meant to protect minors.

It's a fault line similar to the one that developed over comprehensive immigration reform, in which Republicans recognized the need for reform but have found it easier just to oppose the president's fix. This time, however, GOP officials have been more vocal about their concerns about the immediate downsides of inaction.

"If we do that, then we’re going to get blamed for perpetuating the problem," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters on Wednesday.




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