Right-wing Republicans threaten a shutdown over immigration, sparking backlash

WASHINGTON — Earlier this week, congressional leaders were feeling hopeful about reaching a deal to prevent a government shutdown. Then, a group of House Republicans took a trip to the border.

The trip on Wednesday fueled a wave of angst among right-wing lawmakers, who responded by issuing a new demand: Unless President Joe Biden and the Democrats agree to tougher border laws to curtail migration, the GOP-led House should shut down the government on Jan. 19.

“The Republican House majority cannot and must not continue funding a government that is purposefully facilitating the unprecedented invasion at our Southern Border,” Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., the new chairman of the far-right Freedom Caucus, told NBC News after the border visit.

“Irreparable harm is being done to our country by this president’s open border policies. The time for talking about it is over,” Good continued. “Business as usual in Washington is bankrupting and destroying our country, and now is the time to stop it.”

“Border security is national security. Shut the border down, or we’ll shut the government down,” tweeted Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who added that he stands with Reps. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Eli Crane, R-Ariz., and Good in taking that position.

Another conservative who did not attend the trip Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., told NBC News he, too, will vote to shut down the government unless Congress defunds all federal programs that process and support undocumented immigrants.

“We have no other avenue if the Democrats continue to fund this anarchy to the tune of $451 billion a year to house, feed, educate and provide medical care for illegal aliens,” Burchett wrote in a text message.

For now, the threats are coming from the most