Trump, conservatives pour cold water on bipartisan U.S. border security deal but talks continue

Former President Donald Trump and Republican conservatives in Congress are throwing cold water on a draft bipartisan U.S. border security deal as part of a supplemental foreign aid package that would provide more funding for the Ukraine War but negotiations are still taking place.

The formal legislative text of a border security compromise has not been officially released publicly but leaks have suggested that the agreement could allow up to 5,000 migrants to enter the U.S. each day at the border.

The White House is also advocating for billions of dollars to help cities to handle the influx of migrants who U.S. authorities release into the U.S. from the border. Biden's initial funding request for immigration and border-related initiatives was $14 billion. 

Trump, who is on his way to locking up the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said Republicans shouldn't agree to a deal with Democrats on border security unless they get everything they want.

"I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people, many from parts unknown, into our once great, but soon to be great again, Country!" Trump wrote on social media.

After Trump's back-to-back wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, NBC reported that Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell had told GOP senators that a compromise with Democrats on border security wouldn't work politically for the Republicans. He said such a deal could undermine Trump's 2024 campaign, given his focus on cracking down on illegal immigration.

After McConnell's reported comments, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said that a deal with Democrats on border security is now "dead on arrival." 

"Democrats prefer the issue than any solution," said Scott, who dropped out of the GOP 2024 race and has endorsed the front-running Trump.

"Never forget, any issue impacting marginal people they go with problem not with solution," Scott also said.

Still, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who is a lead GOP negotiator a potential border deal, said Thursday that the negotiations are ongoing.

Lankford has disputed that the border agreement would let 5,000 migrants to enter the U.S. each day at the border. 

Lankford's office was not available for further comment before press time. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Thursday on the Senate floor that negotiations over the foreign aid supplemental bill and border security will continue through the weekend.

"As we’ve seen over the past day, getting a bipartisan agreement on the supplemental is very difficult. But I am glad that now negotiations are continuing to move forward," he said. "Of course, there are still issues that must be settled, but negotiators will work all weekend in an effort to get this done."

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who is involved in the negotiations, said that it is past time to pass a supplemental foreign aid package.

“We have been at these negotiations for four months. We are at the finish line. We still have a handful of issues to resolve, but there is no reason for us to wait weeks to get this on the floor," he said. “I am hopeful that our Republican colleagues will work with us to wrap up the supplemental, both the policy changes and the funding necessary to effectuate the policy changes in the next few days, so we can answer the call for Ukraine."