Border States Brace for Migration Wave
On Thursday (5/11), the Title 42 order will expire. The order was implemented in March of 2020 in response to COVID-19 and allowed accelerated expulsion of illegal immigrants for health reasons. A surge of migrants has been building at the border in anticipation that the expiration will make it easier to remain in the US. Authorities estimate that encounters may double with the expected surge.
The situation has prompted criticism from both sides of the aisle as to the Biden Administration’s handling of the border. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said the federal government has failed to deliver a satisfactory plan.
Recent estimates are that over 6.5 million immigrants have entered the country illegally over the past two years. That is over 3 times the population of Idaho.
McConnell: Debt Deal Between Biden/McCarthy
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated Monday that the looming debt ceiling negotiation is between President Biden and GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McConnell and Biden have a long relationship based on their shared tenure for decades in the Senate which some had hoped might help bring a resolution. His statement indicates a change in power within the GOP.
The news comes the day before Biden and McCarthy are to meet. The debt ceiling deadline is perhaps just 3 weeks away. If an agreement is not reached, the US government will either need to begin prioritizing payments or default on its loans.
Prominent GOP Push Back on Ballot Initiative
The ballot initiative announced last week that would require open primaries and implement ranked choice voting in Idaho drew criticism from several prominent Republicans. Attorney General Raul Labrador and IDGOP Chair Dorothy Moon both made statements on social media against the initiative. Labrador referred to it as a ‘bad idea’ and Moon called it a ‘complicated scheme’.
Impact of Rate Increases
The chart shows the increase in the cost of buying a home. In just over two years, mortgage payments have nearly doubled.