Lawmakers in the Senate have announced a breakthrough in negotiations, reaching a bipartisan border deal. Although the full text of the bill is not yet available, some key details have emerged. One major provision of the agreement is that if the southern border experiences an average of over 5000 daily migrant crossings within a one-week period, it will trigger an automatic shutdown. The deal also includes reforms to expedite the asylum process at the southern border, aiming to streamline it to a six-month timeline. Additionally, the agreement would expedite the issuance of work permits. These concessions from Democrats make this immigration deal one of the most conservative proposals debated in recent decades.
President Biden has expressed his willingness to sign the package into law if it makes its way to his desk. However, the deal is currently facing significant resistance within the GOP. Republican negotiators, including James Lankford, are frustrated with their party's opposition to the agreement after they had previously withheld funding for Ukraine, Israel, and the southern border to demand changes in policy. Lankford noted the irony of Republicans opposing policy changes they had once demanded, suggesting that the resistance is motivated by the upcoming presidential election.
