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Isolating the progressive wing of the party is almost a prerequisite for completing a border deal. The days of any Democrat working with a small group of Republicans to cut bilateral trade are over. With the Republican House and Speaker Mike Johnson in power, any meaningful agreement is almost certainly going to scare the left, at least.
“The president has to act in ways that are disruptive. The situation at the border is not permanent. And that means you have to accept it when it can’t be tolerated, or you have to deal with it. And the when there is a tension in our party,” said Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
The handshake is already in full effect. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) is saddened by the decision to link border policies to foreign aid and Democratic leaders’ exclusion of Hispanic lawmakers from the negotiating room. And he has repeatedly voiced his concern to senior White House officials and Senate Democratic leaders.
Padilla said that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer assured him and other members that they would clarify the details before there is a final agreement.
A rift within the Democratic Party could pose serious problems for the White House if progressives can pull together against a deal. last. The risks from such a revolution are likely to be higher in the House than in the Senate, where liberal opposition to border policies and conservative opposition to funding Ukraine could create a toxic combination. .
“I am absolutely against any bill that changes the asylum status, or removes parole,” said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). “We should not trivialize the lives of immigrants on our extension.”
The exclusion of the Hispanic Caucus from the discussions struck a nerve within the powerful Democratic bloc. His representatives requested a personal meeting with White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, a request that was not fulfilled. He and other senior assistants made individual calls with the CHC Chair Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Padilla, Sen. Bob Menendez and other members of the Hispanic Caucus, according to a person familiar with the situation are not authorized. discuss private conversations; the White House is not ruling out a reunion.
The calls did not go far enough for the Hispanic Caucus, which wanted specifics about what was on the table from the White House and a greater commitment to discuss the group moving forward. Neither request was accepted, according to another person familiar with the situation.
Spanish lawmakers and progressives lined up Wednesday to condemn the White House’s reported approval of the talks. Barragán said that they will “hold the line” against the changes: “We urge the Biden administration to say no – to not take the bait.”
Even Democrats from the battleground sides, such as Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, they heard a signal.
“They’re going to be in for a shock if they think we’re going to go with what the administration is negotiating,” Vasquez said.
White House and Senate officials have not put all their thoughts on paper, stressing that nothing is final. But they have discussed the new deportation regime, changes to asylum, early removal across the country and forced detention.
Those talks have angered progressives who see Biden as poised to implement Trump-like policies — not a welcome comparison in the Democratic Party, to say the least.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) has been talking to his friends for a long time, explaining to them the situation in his state and hoping to reduce the Democratic opposition. He also said that he did not expect there to be major problems with the number of votes in the Senate, but he added that the House is not sure. .
“That’s usually the nature of an adjustment,” Kelly said. “People have to be willing to accept something they can’t agree with 100 percent.”
However, Biden’s leadership could prove invaluable in navigating this difficult time. With his party plagued by declining approval ratings and challenging field polls, the president could argue that border trade is not just good policy but also good politics.
Of course, liberals disagree with that argument. According to Padilla, Biden risks more by alienating his supporters who oppose Trump-era immigration policies.
The petitions on the table represent “a fundamental change in policy when President Biden ran, talking about restoring the spirit of the country and staying true to our democratic values and principles of fatherhood.” was established,” he said. “Nothing but — to go back to Trump-era policies, whether it’s Title 42 (removal authority) or child incarceration.”
But other Democrats are pushing for Biden to take over.
“The president must attend,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
The GOP is increasingly confident that Biden will want a deal, despite opposition from within his own party. The main aides of the White House and the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas are very involved in the negotiations, with the participation of Mayorkas especially the naming of Republicans.
This anger, in turn, increased the hope of the GOP for Biden to step in, with Republicans calling on the president to play a role in the negotiations.
Mayorkas “must be punished. Either resign, or leave. I have no faith in him, but he will not be the final decision. It’s his boss,” said said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Advocacy groups — from immigrant rights groups to youth suffrage groups — are also speaking out against the talks. NextGen America, which endorsed Biden for a second term in early May, said it was “very concerned that the White House has indicated a willingness to support these policies.”
And the Immigration Hub sent a memo late Tuesday to Zients as well as Neera Tanden, Biden’s policy adviser, and Anita Dunn, a senior adviser to the president. The advisory group warned the White House that, “more restrictions on immigration” will have “large and damaging effects on important voters, including Latinos, Independents and the foundation.”
It’s not like the Republicans are happy at this time, either: It is almost certain that they will lose votes from twelve or more senators and many other members of the House because of trying to fund Ukraine. They say they are used to it.
“I know the noise on their side is on the left. But the middle of the country is looking at this and saying: ‘What is happening to you?'” said Senate Minority Whip John Thune (RS.D.), who added that he was sure to lose votes in any deal because of strong opposition to Ukraine funding. Democrats are “not used to this,” he added.
Even so, many Democratic senators have accepted that the party will be divided in the coming weeks if negotiators can reach an agreement this month or next. They say this is the fair price of giving Ukraine the American aid it says it desperately needs.
“I think the extremes at each end will not vote for anything,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.). “The goal is to find a consensus that the majority can support.”
Myah Ward contributed to this report.