Top Senate Republicans said Thursday that bipartisan talks to address the crisis at the southern border are on life support, imperiling chances of a broader deal for tens of billions of dollars in support for Ukraine and other U.S. allies.
House Republicans have been balking at details of the negotiations, and Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has weighed in with deep skepticism, leaving a deal on the brink of failure.
“We’re close to that point. Something’s got to give here,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican in the chamber. “We’re at a critical moment.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said Wednesday that a deal was in doubt. He told Republican colleagues in a private meeting that the “politics have changed,” according to a report in Punchbowl News.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, acknowledged the bump but insisted negotiations were still on track Thursday afternoon.
“Negotiations are continuing to move forward,” he said. “There are still issues that must get settled, but negotiators will work all weekend in an effort to get this done.”
SEE ALSO: Dual border security and Ukraine bill could die after McConnell casts doubt
The border talks became the linchpin of the $110 billion national security spending package. Many Republicans said they could not justify to voters approval of more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine to defend its border against Russia while doing nothing to solve the chaos at the U.S.-Mexico boundary.
The emerging deal would stiffen rules for claiming asylum and would allow new expulsion powers when the flow of illegal immigrants tops 5,000 a day. President Biden hoped to issue work permits to unauthorized migrants upon their catch-and-release. He also wanted to expand legal immigration.
House Republicans want a more enforcement-heavy solution, including border wall construction and an end to the administration’s expansive use of “parole” to allow catch-and-release. They said the Senate deal would do little to derail the flow of migrants and leave too much discretion in the hands of an administration they don’t trust to carry out the laws.
Mr. Trump urged Republicans to reject any deal that doesn’t solve the border crisis.
Mr. McConnell, in his private assessment, signaled Mr. Trump’s growing influence over congressional Republicans. At one point, he called Mr. Trump the party’s “nominee,” according to the report.
Democrats’ lead negotiator, Sen. Christopher Murphy of Connecticut, said Republicans sought to preserve a political issue by scuttling bipartisan talks.
SEE ALSO: Biden begs Mexico to solve his border woes
“I know for Donald Trump and some Republicans, it’s not in their best interest for there to be policy changes that actually fix the broken asylum system or give the president new tools to better manage the border,” he said.
He said he was still talking with Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, the Republicans’ chief negotiator.
Mr. Lankford told The Washington Times that the discussions were continuing but said Mr. Trump’s swelling influence was having an effect.
“That’s the shift that has occurred,” he said. Mr. McConnell is “just acknowledging that that is just a reality.”
Some Republicans cheered the negotiators and said Mr. McConnell’s skepticism shouldn’t derail the effort.
“His comments were not a suggestion in any way, shape or form, that we not proceed with border security,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican. “I did not hear a suggestion of walking away.”
Sen. J.D. Vance, Ohio Republican, said Mr. McConnell was “acknowledging political realities.”
“What it does fundamentally when it fails, is it allows the president to blame ‘MAGA Republicans’ for the failure of a border security package, when in reality what failed was a very weak border security package that didn’t actually do anything,” Mr. Vance said.
Republican senators have grown frustrated with Mr. McConnell. They say secrecy about the deal’s terms fosters skepticism and what has emerged from leaks isn’t enticing.
“We haven’t been told anything. This is a source of much consternation inside the conference, including with me,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri Republican. “I was just telling a member of leadership just a minute ago on this topic, who was telling me, ‘Oh, please stop criticizing the border deal.’”
Funding for Israel could likely pass the House and Senate on its own. Funding for Ukraine could clear the Senate but would struggle in the House, where Republicans control the floor schedule and would unlikely bring up any bill that doesn’t deliver what they want for the U.S. border.
Border negotiators have been talking for months. Senators have blown through repeated deadlines set by the White House or chamber leaders.
Last week, Mr. Schumer said chances for a deal were better than 50-50 and talks were headed “in the right direction.”
The ends have constantly been fraying.
In addition to House Republicans’ opposition, Democrats were facing a revolt from immigrant rights advocates who complained that the leaked details of the deal were too harsh to the migrants streaming toward the U.S.
On Thursday, they eagerly pinned the blame on Mr. Trump.
“Donald Trump knows the art of killing the deal, even a bad border and immigration package that would have given him a wish list of anti-immigration priorities,” said Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of America’s Voice.
She said Republicans wanted “a scary non-White ‘other’ to demagogue” in the election.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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