Jeh Johnson pushes back against GOP’s border security bill

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Wednesday ripped a legislation introduced by Republicans that’s being called the toughest border security bill ever set before Congress.

The bill introduced by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) would require DHS to achieve “operational control” of the high-traffic areas within two years and the entire Southern border within five years. The bill defines “operational control” as preventing all unlawful border-crossings.

“Everybody knows that’s something we cannot achieve,” Johnson said about reaching zero unlawful border-crossings.

Johnson made those remarks while speaking to a group of journalism students at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications in Phoenix. Earlier in the day, he spoke to reporters about DHS’s plans to provide security for the Super Bowl that will be held Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.

SEE ALSO: Government tells agents to ID which immigrants not to deport

Johnson’s agency would be in charge of implementing much of the border security bill, which the Homeland Security Committee approved last week on a party line vote of 18-12. But he said that instead of pushing for the bill, members in Congress should be working to provide DHS with the resources it needs.

“I think the message has to be that with the right investment of resources, we can make a difference,” he said.

The bill has faced criticism from not only Johnson and Democrats in Congress, but also some conservative Republicans who believe the bill doesn’t do enough to crack down on undocumented immigrants already living in the United States. Republicans also worry about how it might be handled in the Senate, where Republicans would likely lack the votes necessary to overcome a Democratic filibuster.

The disagreement among Republicans may be the reason why House GOP leaders delayed a vote that was planned for Wednesday on the border security bill. Now it’s unclear whether a vote will come anytime soon.

SEE ALSO: Republicans challenge Obama’s immigration plan

Johnson also talked about how border security and efforts to fight terrorism will be hindered if Congress doesn’t pass an appropriations bill to fully fund DHS by the end of February, when funding for the agency will expire.

“I need their help,” he said, referring to members of Congress. “I cannot print money. I cannot appropriate money as much as I would like to myself.”

Johnson also said he needs money to “pay for all of the things that people in Congress want me to do” as well as to fund new grants—like the ones used to provide security for the Super Bowl.

“I still have a bill to pay from last summer,” he added, referring to the millions of dollars borrowed last year from the disaster relief fund to address the surge of unaccompanied minors. “And there are a lot of these things that I want to keep in place for border security for the future that I need Congress’ help on. But I cannot do that if I’m functioning on a continuing resolution.”

SEE ALSO: GOP responses to State of the Union differ on immigration

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