Reuters, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported Wednesday that the Biden administration is actively seeking compromise with congressional Republicans to reach a compromise on more military aid funding for Ukraine and Israel before lawmakers leave. Christmas vacations. Republicans demand that the White House tighten border and immigration measures at the US-Mexico border.
The White House is considering introducing stricter standards for initial interviews with American asylum seekers at the border, as well as expanding the deportation process, a Reuters source said.
The Biden administration is also willing to consider introducing a “safe third country” provision, under which it would be possible to deny asylum to those migrants who were in countries that were safe for them before entering the United States.
Another possible part of the agreement could be an expansion of the expedited deportation process, known as “expedited removal.” According to a Reuters source, these powers will apply throughout the United States, and not just on the border with Mexico, as now.
A bipartisan group of senators trying to reach a deal is also discussing a quantitative cap on asylum claims. The Biden administration’s position on that limit remains unclear.
The Republican-led House of Representatives has until December 14 to adjourn this year, leaving little time to pass the bill. The Senate will also go into Christmas recess on December 14.
Given that timeline, the goal of the White House’s talks with lawmakers is to reach agreement on key points and perhaps work out the precise details of the bill over the holidays, sources told Reuters.
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he is willing to make major concessions on border security.
On Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized Republicans during a press briefing. “They are playing with our national security,” she said. “History will be hard on them.”
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons said Thursday that the gap between his party and Republicans remains “stubbornly wide,” but he remains optimistic that they will be able to find common ground.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, part of a bipartisan group trying to reach a compromise on border security, told reporters that any proposal would have to cut illegal immigration by at least half and that he didn’t know if a deal could be reached. before. Christmas. “We still have a lot of work to do,” said the Republican senator.