The White House plans to intensify its collaboration with US lawmakers aiming to broker a bipartisan agreement encompassing military aid for Ukraine and Israel alongside enhanced US border security measures, according to Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.
Negotiations and Challenges
Republican insistence on linking Ukraine’s funding to major US border security changes has stalled progress. A bipartisan group of senators has made little progress before the US Congress leaves for Christmas break.
Senator Murphy stressed the importance of knowing if President Joe Biden would endorse any deal in this negotiation process. The White House did not respond to requests for comment as of the statement.
President Biden has focused on the rising numbers of migrants trying to illegally cross the US-Mexico border. Republicans have criticized Biden for overturning the strict policies of former President Donald Trump, a leading Republican candidate for his party’s nomination.
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Border Security and Aid Impasse
Senator Murphy criticized the Republicans’ current border security demands as “unreasonable,” expressing concern that linking military aid for allies to US border security measures could jeopardize global security.
Some Republicans have advocated for stringent border provisions that would enable swift deportation of individuals crossing illegally without the opportunity to seek US asylum. Additionally, they propose substantial reductions in programs that have lawfully admitted hundreds of thousands of migrants.
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