President Biden and Democrats in Congress — who had previously resisted the idea of tougher immigration policies as a price for a spending deal — have pivoted in recent weeks and are now considering concessions as part of an emergency bill to provide aid to Israel and Ukraine.
And Republicans, who have been agitating for months for strict new border measures, are demanding a host of policy changes including an overhaul of asylum laws.
The discussion, taking place ahead of a government funding deadline in just over a week, reflects how fraught the politics of immigration have become for Mr. Biden and Democrats.
The party’s liberal base, which opposes most of the stricter G.O.P.-backed initiatives, was already angry at the president for embracing some of the Trump-era measures he campaigned against, such as border wall construction.
But polls have also shown deep dissatisfaction with how the Biden administration has handled a recent surge in migrants, and many Democrats fear a voter backlash if they do not accept at least modest changes.
Persons:
Biden, Congress —
Organizations:
Capitol, Congress, Democrats, Trump
Locations:
Mexico, Israel, Ukraine