Tillis finally saw how every conservative was against it. The Senate Republican leadership finally told him this bill didn’t have the votes. Yet, in the process, Tillis self-immolated himself, possibly torching his career in public life. If there were a reason for a conservative in North Carolina to issue a primary challenge, this would be the issue.

With this amnesty deal now dead, any future legislation on immigration must have this key provision: a wall.

That specification was never included in the Tillis-Sinema bill. It’s what exposed this proposed law as most unserious about border security and enforcing current immigration statutes. The most egregious carve out was putting two million recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals on the citizenship track, who could sponsor extended family members once they’ve completed the process. The other window dressing in the dead legislation included funds to hire additional Border Patrol officers, increase their pay, and accelerate the deportation process of those who fail to meet asylum standards. That’s rendered worthless if the floodgates are left wide open.

The incentive to come here illegally and be rewarded needs to be ended, though that’s a long-term objective. The wall was working, so complete this Trump initiative in its entirety. Separate the families arrested at the border, which the Obama administration did, though no one complained for obvious partisan reasons.

Make acquiring refugee status more complicated—all these things can be accomplished but with sizable Republican majorities, which we failed to bring into the next Congress after a disappointing 2022 midterm election cycle.

As such, all we can do now is gum up the works for any more milquetoast immigration proposals that only benefit Democratic Party agenda items. Partisan gridlock is what’s going to dominate the next Congress. We tread water for the time being on this issue, but we know what to look for when Republicans talk about grand bargains on immigration. If there is no funding for a wall, merit-based immigration protocols, E-Verify, and at the minimum, reforms on chain migration—kill the talks.

The American people, for years, have wanted a secure border and immigration officers empowered to enforce existing laws. Deport those who shouldn’t be here, especially the criminal aliens, and look into ways to put the squeeze on governors, mayors, and other local Democrats who flirt with the policies associated with sanctuary cities.

The base is demanding a hardline stance. Which Republican will be brave enough to be their voice on the Hill?