The supplemental request also includes $14 billion for border security. Over the weekend, senior White House officials, including White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, called Republican and Democratic lawmakers to try to reach a consensus on border policy changes, two sources familiar with the discussions told CNN. But potential changes to tighten asylum, among other stricter immigration measures, are a hard sell with Democrats, who are concerned the White House is embracing Trump-era immigration policies. While losing support from the Democratic base could cost him at the polls next November, the perception of doing nothing on border security could have broad and lasting implications as well. “I’ve been communicating with the negotiators, my colleagues and friends on the Democrat and Republican side, also with the White House too, and I’m very encouraged.

Source: CNN December 17, 2023 22:33 UTC