In an effort to address immigration politics and the vulnerability it presents for President Joe Biden, Senate Democrats are planning a vote on Thursday to revive the bipartisan border security package. The legislation, which was previously blocked by Republicans earlier this year, aims to reduce border crossings, establish stricter asylum qualifications, and facilitate the quick rejection of migrants who do not meet the criteria. It also grants the president the authority to close the border under specific circumstances, making it the most comprehensive set of migration restrictions in decades.

Despite President Biden's endorsement of the bill, former President Donald Trump played a role in its demise earlier this year, and Republicans have signaled their intention to block it again. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has notified members about the upcoming vote, emphasizing that the proposed bill represents a much-needed boost to border security resources and a necessary repair to the broken immigration system.

Schumer stressed that this week presents an opportunity for Republicans to demonstrate their commitment to addressing the border crisis, calling for bipartisan support to pass the legislation. However, with overwhelming Republican opposition expected, it is anticipated that the bill will fail to advance, as it will require 60 votes.

The decision to bring back the bipartisan bill is part of the Democrats' broader strategy to tackle immigration and take a proactive stance on the issue. In recent weeks, key Biden administration officials and Democratic lawmakers have been discussing the possibility of holding votes on bills that Republican opposition would likely reject. Additionally, executive actions being considered by President Biden are being weighed as potential measures to address immigration concerns. Notably, this month, the administration proposed a new rule to expedite the asylum process.

Republicans, on the other hand, have vowed to filibuster the legislation as a political messaging exercise, dismissing the vote as a means to score points instead of genuinely seeking solutions. Even Senator James Lankford, the Oklahoma Republican who previously negotiated the original border package, is planning to vote against it. Lankford expressed frustration over the lack of effort to analyze what went wrong with the bill previously and find ways to address those issues.

Schumer has argued that Republican opposition to the bill illustrates their lack of concern for border security, suggesting that their intention is to preserve the issue as a political weapon for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, as he has made immigration and the overwhelmed border a centrepiece of his campaign.

The deadlock over immigration reform has been a recurring issue, with blame being placed on competing proposals between the House and Senate for months. In February, the Senate was split evenly on advancing the national security and border package, falling short of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster. Amidst the vote, Schumer included critical aid for Ukraine and Israel in an attempt to gain support. The final vote resulted in a narrow 49-51 defeat.

While it is unlikely that the revived border package will make it to the House, GOP leaders have urged Schumer to consider the tougher House-passed bill, known as HR 2, that lacks Democratic support. They argue that the Senate vote is an insincere effort to secure the border since it would codify some of the Biden administration's perceived detrimental open-border policies.

As the Thursday vote approaches, it remains to be seen how this latest effort to address border security and immigration issues will affect the political landscape leading up to the November election.