After a long period of inactivity in the Senate, a recent flurry of developments has brought fresh hope to immigration negotiations, according to key lawmakers and sources familiar with the talks. While the discussions are ongoing, there is no final agreement yet, highlighting the complexity of the issue at hand.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., described the recent discussions as more “productive” following significant movements in the positions of both the White House and Republicans. Lankford emphasized that there are still challenging issues to address, but the presence of all key stakeholders at the negotiating table is a positive sign.
The negotiations involve a bipartisan group of senators, including Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and top White House staff, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also becoming involved in the discussions. The Department of Homeland Security is also a crucial participant.
Despite previous skepticism due to the sluggish pace of negotiations, there is a sense of cautious optimism among the lawmakers. “My hope is that we can all agree to stay until we get this done,” Murphy told reporters. Republicans have stated that reaching an immigration deal is critical for their support to pass aid for Ukraine and Israel, and not even a visit by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Capitol Hill has changed their stance.
While there has been progress in the last 24 hours, a Democratic source familiar with the talks cautioned that there is no final agreement or framework in principle. The pressure to reach a resolution is mounting with Congress scheduled to recess by the end of the week. Even if a deal is reached in the Senate, it’s unclear if it would gain the support of the Republican-controlled House.
The White House is closely monitoring the negotiations, with President Joe Biden expected to personally engage once a clearer framework of an agreement emerges. However, there are concerns about potential political blowback to a bipartisan compromise on certain border policy issues.
Despite the challenges, there is a growing sense of optimism among lawmakers. During a briefing for House lawmakers by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, R-Ariz., Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., expressed confidence that an immigration deal is within reach.
However, the potential deal has sparked concerns among pro-immigration progressives and the Hispanic Caucus, who fear that the agreement could impose harsh conditions on migrants and contradict Biden’s campaign promises.
With time running out, there’s no guarantee that the two parties will secure a deal in the Senate, especially considering the upcoming government funding deadlines in January and February, as well as the political dynamics of an election year. The complexity and sensitivity of the issues at hand make achieving bipartisan agreement crucial to the viability of any deal.