Chris Murphy Claims Republicans are "Avoiding Solutions" for Border Issues | Vanity Fair

By Eric Lutz

The recent border bill, though imperfect, was a significant effort led by Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. While it didn't offer a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and required Democrats to concede more than they gained, Murphy viewed it as the best possible compromise. He expressed his dismay at its rejection by Donald Trump and his GOP allies in the House. “If Republicans couldn’t accept this deal on immigration,” he told me, “there’s no deal they’re going to accept.”

In a conversation with Vanity Fair, Murphy discussed the Republicans’ bad-faith approach to immigration, the implications for American foreign policy in the upcoming election, and the necessity for Democrats to prioritize border security. “Most people in America think that we should have legal immigration but believe that our border is out of control,” Murphy said. “But they look at a political structure in which one side wants to totally shut down…and the other side sometimes doesn’t seem to care much about the border.”

Vanity Fair: Do you feel that, during negotiations with Republicans, both sides define the “crisis” similarly, or does it seem like you're discussing different issues?

Chris Murphy: It’s not an easy answer. Republicans largely see the crisis as too many people entering the country, while Democrats view it through the impact on the individuals coming. Increasingly, my party sees the situation at the border as unsustainable. One of my critiques of the party is that we have sometimes focused exclusively on the migrants’ welfare instead of also emphasizing a secure border. We can care deeply about improving migrants' lives while acknowledging the current border state is unacceptable.

Vanity Fair: Given your frustration with Republicans’ handling of the bill, how do you view the potential for future bipartisan cooperation?

Chris Murphy: I’ve concluded that Republicans will always approach immigration with bad faith. They might want to compromise intellectually, but emotionally, they are averse to resolving the issue. They fear losing the border crisis as a political tool. I might have been naive, but if Republicans couldn’t accept this deal, there’s no deal they’ll accept. However, I haven’t given up on bipartisanship entirely. Until the election, Republicans will likely align with Trump’s political operation, which won’t support any significant bipartisan compromises. So, major bipartisan moments are unlikely in the next six to eight months, but I still believe some Republicans in the Senate are open to deals.

Vanity Fair: Does the lack of bipartisan compromises extend to foreign aid? You’ve expressed confidence in passing it, but it seems vulnerable given the House GOP’s position on Ukraine.

Chris Murphy: Our only choice in the Senate is to pass this bill with a strong bipartisan vote. If it passes with 70 votes, it will send an important signal. (Note: After we spoke, the foreign aid package passed 70-29 in the Senate but faces uncertainty in the House, though Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is confident it will pass.) I can’t control the House or the MAGA movement. Once Trump targeted the immigration deal, it was doomed. I worry that Trump and his movement will increase their attacks on Ukraine aid, repeating what happened with immigration. Trump wants Putin to win and will direct his movement accordingly.

Vanity Fair: Trump recently encouraged attacks on NATO at a rally. What are the stakes for November’s election, given his influence?

Chris Murphy: Trump is an autocrat in waiting, with contempt for democracy and admiration for dictators. The constraints of his first term won’t exist in his second. Our democracy will be at risk immediately, and he will support dictators like Putin unreservedly. His administration’s foreign policy will be run by sycophants, with devastating consequences for the US.

Vanity Fair: Nearly ten years into the Trump era, are you surprised by the continued support for him despite his authoritarian tendencies and numerous felony charges?

Chris Murphy: There is deep dissatisfaction with the status quo that Trump taps into. People feel the current economic and cultural order doesn’t benefit them and want radical change. The pandemic didn’t erase this revolutionary mood, and our politics must address it.

Vanity Fair: How do you propose addressing this dissatisfaction? Has your perspective changed with the upcoming election?

Chris Murphy: My ideas have crystallized. I worked on immigration because there is a broad consensus not reflected in political dialogue. Most Americans support legal immigration but believe the border is out of control. They see one side wanting to shut down legal immigration and the other side indifferent to border issues. I seek a realignment of politics to represent the big middle ground. The immigration bill aimed to address this but couldn’t break through the current political paradigm. I will continue to align Washington’s debates with the large group of frustrated Americans who don’t align with the extreme right or left.