WASHINGTON — A push by the White House and top Democrats in Congress to offer Republicans concessions on border policies in exchange for new Ukraine aid gained urgency this week. But some Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates are warning the latest proposals being discussed would unfairly restrict asylum.

What You Need To Know

  • The White House is ramping up negotiations over a border agreement so that enough Republicans will get behind new aid to Ukraine

  • Among the proposals Biden administration officials are mulling is expanding the authority to detain and deport some migrants 

  • Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Wednesday urged the White House to not give in to Republican demands

  • While many Democrats are opposed to major asylum restrictions, many House Republicans say what is on the table would not go far enough

Despite deterrence efforts like Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s razor wire or the Biden administration’s deportation flights, tens of thousands of migrants continue to stream toward and across the southern U.S. border. Many go through Eagle Pass, Texas. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, represents the community and told Spectrum News he was there recently. He said he witnessed the effects of a bridge closure due to a surge in migrant crossings, as well as met with first responders. 

“America has had enough. We’re done with the fentanyl. We’re done with all the crises. I think there’s an opportunity here, if we can have sensible solutions that protect those that are legally seeking refuge, but also close some of these loopholes where so many people are exploiting that,” Gonzales said. 

This comes as the White House ramps up negotiations over a border agreement so that enough Republicans will get behind new aid to Ukraine. It is a tactic some Texas Democrats denounce. 

“What they’re doing is holding hostage that money that will replenish our munitions, so that we can help Ukraine in exchange for some very extreme border proposals, and the proposals are around essentially degrading asylum,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. 

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Wednesday urged the White House to not give in to Republican demands. Among the proposals, Biden administration officials are mulling is expanding the authority to detain and deport some migrants. 

“I don’t want the clock turned back to the Trump days of detention centers and children in cages and people being separated, because if I wanted that, I would’ve just voted for Trump. But I voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” said Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, in a press conference with other caucus members. “So we must do better, and I know that working together in a bipartisan fashion we can.” 

“We could do so much better on border issues, but what is being proposed by the Republicans is to make our immigration system worse and more broken,” said Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin.

According to the Associated Press, Senate negotiators agreed on tightening the screening requirements to determine whether people can move forward with their asylum claim, something Gonzales agrees with. He has also called for more immigration judges, as well as increased pay for Border Patrol officers.

“There is no doubt our focus needs to be on our border, but we can do two things at once,” Gonzales said. “We can also support our allies and Ukraine and Israel. We can tackle all things but it takes real actors. It takes real people that want to have real solutions.”

It is not clear whether a deal on new aid for Ukraine can be reached before lawmakers leave Washington for the holidays, despite a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. While many Democrats are opposed to major asylum restrictions, many House Republicans say what is on the table would not go far enough.