A bipartisan group of senators has been discussing a “very secret” border deal for early 2025 — as red-state Democrats move to take action after the party’s embarrassing 2024 presidential election loss, according to a report.
The illegal immigration crisis was a lightning rod issue during the 2024 presidential race, with President-elect Donald Trump vowing to shut down the border and deport millions of undocumented migrants when he’s back in the White House in January.
A small group of senators is now considering a bipartisan border deal that would secure the 60 necessary votes to pass, Axios reported.
At least two Democrats hailing from Trump states are involved in the talks, which Sen. Markwayne Mullin telling the outlet that the discussions have been “very secret.”
The potential bipartisan deal comes as GOP lawmakers squabble on how to best deal with the crisis in Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Top GOP senators have, however, previously promised to move quickly on a border package as early as February by using a two-part budget reconciliation process to get it done.
“If we can do border separately — without reconciliation — then [Trump’s] okay with” one reconciliation package, Mullin told Axios.
Opponents of the two-part reconciliation plan have proposed a single massive reconciliation package for the funding.
Democrats, including Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), have been working across the aisle to get something done.
“If there’s willingness to work in a bipartisan way to do some stuff, not only on border security, but on immigration reform, I think it would be great,” Kelly said.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who is up for reelection next cycle in the key swing state, told Axios the small group of Democrats are “gonna be certainly engaged in efforts to make that happen.”
“There are all kinds of conversations — and I hope to be a part of them as they continue — aiming at comprehensive immigration reform,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told the outlet.
More Senate Democrats have also expressed their willingness to join the conversation about a bipartisan border package.
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), who represents a state Trump won in 2024, said she would “like to be part of those conversations.”
Border state Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) said he would not be surprised if a bipartisan deal passed.
“We’ve been clear as Democrats in the Senate that we’re willing to work with our Republican colleagues to solve this problem,” he told Axios.
Trump advisor Stephen Miller said earlier this month that a border package would be passed by “early February” — indicating Trump’s team supports the two-part reconciliation plan.
As much as $120 billion could be put towards the border in the possible first of two packages, which also includes energy and defense spending, a source familiar with the plan told Axios.
The money would go towards building the necessary infrastructure to carry out Trump’s deportation efforts, as well as wall construction and border agents.
Trump has vowed to carry out the largest deportation in US history beginning on day one of his presidency on Jan. 20, and has threatened countries by vowing to not do “business” with them if they refuse to accept their citizens back into their countries.
President-elect Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, revealed Wednesday he wants Congressional funding and 100,000 beds for migrants to support Trump’s “expensive” plan, which he estimated could cost upwards of $86 billion.
Homan argued the American people voted for more funding for deportations since they elected Trump into office and urged Congress should pass additional funding through reconciliation.
