Senate border negotiations are going on despite Trump’s pressure

The Importance of Border Security Negotiations: Implications of Mitch McConnell’s Outburst on the Bounds on Border Security

Negotiating teams are trying to reach an agreement that would provide assistance to Ukraine and improve border security, but the deal is facing serious political threats. The talks seemed on the verge of collapse Wednesday after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested the politics around the agreement have shifted but negotiators have vowed to forge ahead.

Punchbowl News first reported that McConnell told Republican senators the politics “have changed” because former President Trump wants to build his reelection campaign around immigration. “We don’t want to do anything to undermine him,” McConnell reportedly said.

McConnell’s comments deflated hopes that a deal could be made public this week. The Negotiators told reporters as early as Monday they were near a final agreement on outstanding issues like parole for asylum seekers.

The security aid for Israel and Ukraine is tied to the border agreement, so a failure could jeopardize the chance of Congress passing that aid. McConnell was one of the people who pushed President Biden to include border security elements in his funding request.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Olivia Dalton told reporters Thursday that the White House remains committed to getting deal on border and national security funding.

While the text of an agreement has not yet been released, former President Trump spoke out against a bipartisan framework on his social media site, saying that he does not believe we should do a Border deal unless we get what we need.

Lankford and Murphy: “It’s just a matter of time,” she said. Rep. Chris Murphy, the U.S. Senate Minority, on the Border

“We started this in October, and it’s not October anymore,” Lankford said. It’s January and this is it. The end of January. The presidential primary season is in the middle. that’s just a reality.”

Sen. Chris Murphy, the lead Democrat involved in negotiations, said he has not spoken to McConnell about his comments, but reiterated that “talks are ongoing.”

“I think it’s going to be a decision for the Republican conference in the next day or two whether they want to get something done or leave the border a mess for political reasons,” said Murphy.

The number of migrants currently crossing the border hit a record high of 2.5 million last year, and Sen. Cornyn stressed that his state can’t keep absorbing them.

“President Trump, you know, obviously he’s an important voice but we have a job to do. And we intend to do it,” Cornyn said. Some people are saying that they can’t give Biden a victory because he desperately needs it. The problem will not be fixed in the next ten months because of the magnitude.