Dem Senators Join With GOP Lawmakers to Push for Deportation Plan

Three Democratic senators are pushing a program to expedite the deportation of migrants who have made invalid asylum claims, The Arizona Republic is reporting.

Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., Doug Jones, D-Ala., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have signed a letter to acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan saying Operation Safe Return would allow the deportation of migrants within 15 days if their asylum claims are not proven.

"This pilot program would apply to families who aren't claiming 'credible fear,' which of course is the first threshold in seeking asylum," Sinema said. "If someone says 'I left my country because I can't make a living,' (or) 'it's hard to take care of my family' — that's what we call an economic migrant."

Also signing the letter were Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Rob Portman, R-Ohio; James Lankford, R-Okla.; Michael Enzi, R-Wyo.; John Barrasso, R-Wyo.; and John Cornyn, R-Texas.

Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Sinema are the architects behind the program, according to the Republic.

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