Tuesday morning news: February 6, 2024

Border bill » House Speaker Mike Johnson says leaders in his chamber have read through the Senate’s bipartisan border bill.

JOHNSON: And it did not take long to realize that this is dead on arrival. There’s no way we could bring this through the House.

Sen. James Lankford was the lead Republican negotiator in crafting the bill. He’s asking House Republicans to give it a chance.

He says the bill would, among other things end so-called catch-and-release border practices, raise asylum standards, and build more sections of the border wall.

He also said it would close loopholes in immigration laws.

LANKFORD: Even President Trump asked for those to be closed while he was president. And Congress was unable to get it done. We would get it done in this.

But Republican critics contend the Senate bill is riddled with loopholes of its own.

And Speaker Johnson notes that the bill would give work permits to many migrants who cross the southern border.

JOHNSON: What it would do is further incentivize illegal immigration. It would not resolve any of the problems, not reform in any meaningful way.

Even in the Senate Lankford and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are the only Republicans publicly backing the bill.

Migrant crimes in New York City » Meantime, in New York City, Police Commissioner Edward Caban told reporters on Monday:

CABAN: So in recent months, a wave of migrant crime has washed over our city.

Police this week arrested several Venezuelan migrants in the Bronx accused of operating a robbery ring, targeting mostly women, snatching purses and cell phones.

And detectives are trying to track down migrants accused of beating New York police officers.

Mayor Eric Adams:

ADAMS: The overwhelming number of 170-plus-thousand migrants and asylum seekers are pursuing the American dream. But those who commit a crime will be treated like any other criminal in this city.

Migrant crime has posed a particular challenge, because in many cases, police have no records or photos to use in identifying the suspects.

Blinken to Middle East » Secretary of State Tony Blinken is back in the Middle East hoping to tamp down tensions in the region and secure a cease-fire that would see more Hamas hostages go free.

And State Department spokesman Vedant Patel says Blinken will also continue to push for a Palestinian state independent of Israel.

PATEL: Some kind of longer term solution here that gets us out of an endless cycle of violence. We continue to feel strongly that a two-state solution is that solution forward.

Blinken met Monday with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince. He’s set to travel to Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and the West Bank.

SOUND: [Protest at UNWRA HQ]

UNRWA investigation » Dozens gathered outside the Jerusalem offices of UNWRA yesterday. That’s the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

Protesters waved Israeli flags and demanded that the agency be expelled from the holy city after allegations that a dozen of its staff participated in the October 7th terror attacks by Hamas.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Aryeh King:

KING: These people working here, UNRWAL, they are poisoning, poisoning the head, the brain of children in Jerusalem. They are poisoning them against Israel, against Jews!

The UN on Monday announced an independent review of UNRWA policies and procedures to be led by a former French foreign minister. It’s unclear if that probe will satisfy the demands of the US government for a “immediate and serious investigation into the allegations.”

King Charles cancer » King Charles III is undergoing treatment for cancer. Buckingham Palace announced the diagnosis on Monday, but did not immediately provide details on the type of cancer or his prognosis.

President Biden extended his well-wishes hours later.

BIDEN: Concerned about him. Just heard his diagnosis — probably talk to him, God willing.

The 75-year-old monarch will halt all public appearances for now. But British royal commentator Alastair Bruce says Charles shouldn’t have any trouble handling other duties

BRUCE: Dealing with both approving both an enormous number of documents and giving effect to various different instruments from government and through Parliament. So the king will get on with that perfectly happily.

King Charles has no plans to hand over his constitutional roles as head of state.

Chile fires » In Chile, rampant wildfires have now killed well over a hundred people as firefighters struggle to contain the flames.

Today is the second of two national days of mourning.

BORIC: [Speaking Spanish]

President Gabriel Boric said the entire nation is “suffering and crying” for all of those lost.

Chile has declared a state of emergency. The flames, which broke out on Friday, have destroyed thousands of homes.

NBC Poll » The results of a new NBC News poll could be troubling election year news for Democrats. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: The poll of about a thousand registered voters gives Republicans a 4-point lead over Democrats in a generic congressional matchup.

It also puts President Biden’s approval at just 37 percent. That’s a new low for the president.

The poll gives GOP front-runner Donald Trump a 20-point lead over Biden on which candidate would better handle the economy and a 30-point lead on immigration and the border.

The survey also gives Trump a 16-point edge over Biden on being competent and effective. That’s a reversal from four years ago, when respondents gave Biden a 9-point edge when answering the same question before the 2020 election.

Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt leads one of the two firms that conducted the poll for NBC. He said the findings reveal “a presidency in peril.”

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: getting to the bottom of the U.S. border crisis. Plus, Classic Book of the Month.

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