Senate GOP Whip John Thune stated on Monday that the cost of the border security measures in the national security package that is being hammered out by negotiators may surpass the $14 billion that President Joe Biden had originally asked for.
When asked if he thought the number would need to increase as negotiators looked for policy answers to the many issues at the border, Thune told reporters, “That’s being discussed.”
There are still important problems to resolve in order to get a border policy agreement that would allow the Senate to approve aid for Israel and Ukraine. When the Senate could be able to vote on the deal or when it would be finalized are yet unknown. The Republican-controlled House already presents formidable obstacles to any prospective compromise, and the package’s cost may make it more difficult to reach a consensus and advance its passage.
According to two people involved with the discussions, border negotiators carried on into the weekend and made progress on the majority of the policy points that had been agreed upon thus far, as reported by CNN. Negotiations on border security, however, increasingly center on how to allocate the funds—a topic fraught with significant issues and political fault lines.
One of the leading Senate negotiators attempting to reach an agreement on immigration law and foreign aid package, Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, issued a warning on Monday stating that it would take “quite a push” to start voting on legislation this week.
“It won’t be prepared to be released today,” stated Lankford. “It takes several days for everyone to get through it. To be able to finish it this week would be quite the effort.
The Republican from Oklahoma stated that currently, determining how to pay for the measures they are drafting is a significant challenge.
“The most significant challenge is attempting to integrate all the various components, their costs, and their functionalities,” he remarked.
Negotiators are under pressure to reach a deal as the Republican Party’s support for aiding Ukraine is dwindling, some on the left are calling for conditions to be placed on aid to Israel, and front-runner Donald Trump has warned them not to settle for anything unless it meets every demand Republicans have on the border.
House Republicans have already threatened to reject any compromise bill they believe to be insufficient, even if an agreement is reached.
The next significant challenge, according to Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, one of the lead Senate negotiators on the immigration and foreign aid package, is figuring out how to pay for the measure without significantly altering it.
“Most of our job is finished. Rather than rewriting it, we only need the appropriators to assist us with funding it,” he informed reporters.
Murphy stated, “Until we have final text and consent from the appropriators to fund it, to fund the agreement, we don’t have a deal.”
Murphy stated to reporters that there is a chance they will introduce the bill this week.
“I’m stating that it’s feasible. That’s possible, but I’m not sure if it will happen,” he remarked.
Thune cautioned that he is “not real” hopeful that a vote on the package will take place this week, pointing out that negotiators still have work to do to complete the text.
“The text is not yet there. We must text each other. We’ll see; our members will need some time to study it,” he said.
It was his hope last week, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated, that they could start voting on a package this week.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated on Monday that although the talks are moving closer together, “there are a handful of issues that have not yet been agreed to” and that the agreement is “not a done deal yet.”
“We plan to move as quickly as possible to pass a national security supplemental here on the floor if given the chance.” We haven’t arrived yet. We’ll continue,” he declared. “We’re still optimistic, but nothing is finalized just yet.”
While negotiations over a border package continue, lawmakers have had to deal with presidential politics as the 2024 race for president looms larger and larger over the political landscape. This factor threatens to make the effort even more fraught as Trump has openly criticized the idea of any compromise. He posted on Truth Social last Wednesday, saying, “I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions and Millions of people.”
Under pressure to address Trump’s stance and its potential impact on support for their finished product, Lankford said, “I have no doubt that he is in favor of attempting to be able to secure the border.” I’m not sure where he stands on this specific package, but it’s clear that he supports efforts to secure the border, and this will provide many new instruments to help any government do so more successfully.
Lankford stated that he has not discussed the negotiations with the former president directly. “That might be appropriate at some point,” he conceded.
The famously complex political nature of immigration policy is a major factor in the past failures of consensus attempts.
On Monday, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin expressed skepticism regarding plans to modify the president’s authority to give parole to immigrants. This is a crucial demand of the Republican side in the border security talks, and it could play a significant role in the agreement that they ultimately reach.
Durbin stated, “It’s too important at pivotal points in history for the president to have that authority.”
Durbin responded, “I have not seen a specific proposal, but I am skeptical of any diminution of the president’s power in this area,” when asked if he was open to altering or restricting parole or asylum.