Privately, Democrats are concerned that Republicans are pushing their demands beyond the parameters of border security, the diversity visa lottery, and family-based immigration laws. In meetings this week, the administration has been referring to a four-page document of “must haves” for an immigration deal, which includes provisions that Democrats consider out of bounds.
For example, in the realm of border security, the administration is seeking reforms to laws governing unaccompanied migrant children who show up at the border, overhauling asylum policy and funding 10,000 immigration enforcement officers, according to the document obtained by POLITICO. A DHS official declined to comment.
“That’s a big problem, because it’s Phase 2,” Durbin said. “Give the president border security, which he wants, but let’s not take on every single immigration issue. It’s not fair to them. We don’t have the time to do it right.”