U.S. President Joe Biden and former U.S. President Donald Trump visited the United States’ southern border on Feb. 29 to highlight their respective solutions for America’s immigration crisis. This visit followed Capitol Hill’s latest immigration-related debacle: Senate Republicans blocked a border security bill that included most of their own demands on Feb. 7. Only four Republican senators voted to move forward with the legislation, which would have invested about $20 billion into hiring new asylum and border control officials, expanding immigration detention facilities and increasing screenings for fentanyl and other drugs. In addition, the Emergency National Security Supplemental Bill would have granted Biden the power to shut down the border if average migrant encounters surpass 4,000 per day in a given week. The bill also included over $80 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and civilians of global crises such as Palestinians and Ukrainians.
Though this legislation included many Republican priorities and would have been the first comprehensive immigration reform since former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s administration, its chances were killed by one man: Trump. Despite the 2024 presidential election being over eight months away, Trump’s likely nomination as the Republican candidate has made the passage of popular, bipartisan legislation like the border security bill nearly impossible because he wants to avoid Biden receiving any credit for addressing political issues.
Though Trump’s term ended three years ago, he continues to have an indisputable stranglehold over the identity of the Republican Party. The refusal of Senate Republicans to pass the border bill is not merely a legislative decision; it is a manifestation of an unwavering loyalty to Trump.
Mere hours after the bill was released to the Senate following months of heated negotiations, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the legislation would be a “Death Wish for the Republican Party.” Trump’s opposition did not stem from the bill’s contents; he knows that the current border crisis is one of his biggest political advantages leading up to the election. Recent polls found that of the record-high 55% of Americans who disapprove of Biden, 19% cite immigration as their primary rationale. Passage of the border security bill would have been a legislative triumph for Biden going into November’s election, which Trump cannot afford given his current narrow lead over Biden in a hypothetical one-on-one matchup. Clearly, Trump does not care about the conservative border policies the legislation would have implemented; he is focused exclusively on winning back the presidency.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), once a fierce rival of Trump on the campaign trail, exemplifies loyalty to Trump over traditional Republican principles. In a statement opposing the proposed border legislation, Cruz claimed that “Joe Biden and Democrat officials did this to our country — explicitly and deliberately. They can reverse their disastrous policies right now.”
Setting aside the blatant irony of Cruz’s statement given his vote against immigration reform, it is worth noting that Cruz faces reelection this year after narrowly defeating former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) by fewer than three percentage points in 2018. By choosing to prioritize Trump’s approval, Cruz has demonstrated that he cares more about his chances at reelection than passing meaningful reforms to fix America’s current immigration crisis.
Loyalty to Trump is not limited to individual senators; it extends to the Republican party as a whole. In addition to fearing Trump’s wrath, Republican politicians recognize his ability to attract swing voters along with his influence on primary elections. The border security bill, despite its bipartisan potential, became a sacrificial lamb for the sake of appeasing Trump and ensuring political expediency.
The repercussions of this blind loyalty are profound. The Republican Party was once known for its emphasis on limited government, individual freedoms and fiscal responsibility. Now, it has found itself entangled in a web of Trumpism that often contradicts these core principles. The border bill was an opportunity for the party to redefine itself, showcasing its commitment to addressing national security concerns and willingness to compromise to ensure effective governance. Instead, the legislation became the casualty of an allegiance to one individual above all else.
The Republican Party must reflect on its priorities and values. Blind loyalty to any individual undermines the fundamental principles that should guide legislative decision-making. The Republican Party’s identity should be defined by a commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law and policies that benefit the American people — not the singular ambition of one political figure.
This November, our vote extends beyond the simple dichotomy of Republicans and Democrats. It is a choice between one party ensnared in blind loyalty and another committed to meaningful negotiation. We must ensure that governance is prioritized over individual aspirations so that our representatives can reach bipartisan compromises that can benefit all citizens, not just the ambitions of a few.
Ryan Wang (25Ox) is from Naperville, Ill.
