A small, bipartisan group of senators have been quietly sketching out a possible new border deal for early 2025, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Border and immigration reform is the white whale of Congress. It's also President-elect Trump's No. 1 priority.

Top Senate Republicans plan to move quickly on a border package, using the budget reconciliation process to get it done.
But the idea of a bipartisan border deal that could get 60 votes has popped up as GOP infighting drags on over the best path forward in Trump's first 100 days.

Zoom in: At least two Trump-state Democrats have been involved in the conversations, which Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) described as "very" serious and the details "very secret."

"If we can do border separately — without reconciliation — then [Trump's] okay with" one reconciliation package, Mullin, who's been a key link between Trump, the Senate and the House, told Axios.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is one of those Democrats.: "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."
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who is up for reelection next cycle, told Axios of the bipartisan border talks: "We're 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.) said.

Between the lines: Politics have shifted on the border, with many Democrats — especially in states Trump won — moving to the right and embracing stricter enforcement measures to stem illegal border crossings and drug smuggling.

Trump may have further made an opening by suggesting he would be willing to provide protections for DACA recipients —people who illegally entered the country as children.
"We have to do something about the Dreamers because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age," Trump said in an interview earlier this month.
That has long been the top immigration priority for Democrats.

A small, bipartisan group of senators have been quietly sketching out a possible new border deal for early 2025, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Border and immigration reform is the white whale of Congress. It's also President-elect Trump's No. 1 priority.

Top Senate Republicans plan to move quickly on a border package, using the budget reconciliation process to get it done.
But the idea of a bipartisan border deal that could get 60 votes has popped up as GOP infighting drags on over the best path forward in Trump's first 100 days.

Zoom in: At least two Trump-state Democrats have been involved in the conversations, which Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) described as "very" serious and the details "very secret."

"If we can do border separately — without reconciliation — then [Trump's] okay with" one reconciliation package, Mullin, who's been a key link between Trump, the Senate and the House, told Axios.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is one of those Democrats.: "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."
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who is up for reelection next cycle, told Axios of the bipartisan border talks: "We're 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.) said.

Between the lines: Politics have shifted on the border, with many Democrats — especially in states Trump won — moving to the right and embracing stricter enforcement measures to stem illegal border crossings and drug smuggling.

Trump may have further made an opening by suggesting he would be willing to provide protections for DACA recipients —people who illegally entered the country as children.
"We have to do something about the Dreamers because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age," Trump said in an interview earlier this month.
That has long been the top immigration priority for Democrats.

https://www.axios.com/2024/12/19/sen...der-deal-trump

Senate Republicans give border crackdown top priority in 2025

Incoming Senate GOP leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is actively seeking ways to make next year's border and defense package deficit-neutral, if not deficit-negative.

Why it matters: Despite pushback from House Republicans, Thune is full steam ahead on his two-part reconciliation plan for next year, sources tell Axios.

Top staffers in leadership and committee offices met Friday to start sketching out the logistics of the process.
Trump adviser Stephen Miller said on Sunday that the border package would be passed by "early February," indicating President-elect Trump's team is on board with the two-part plan.

The border portion of the first reconciliation package — which also includes energy and defense — could be as much as $120 billion, a source familiar told Axios.

It would go toward wall and border agents but also build out infrastructure at Immigration and Customs Enforcement for Trump's deportation efforts.

Zoom in: After pressure from some Senate Republicans, Thune is gathering ideas for ways to pay for the package likely to include hundreds of billions of dollars for defense and the border — though the exact total is not clear.

One idea: Overturning President Biden's student loan program, which could free up to $200 billion, sources familiar with the conversations told Axios.
Some of the package could also be paid for by increased revenue through some of the energy proposals.

What they're saying: "While I support spending restrictions and tax cuts, my top priority — and the first order of business in the Senate Budget Committee — is to secure a broken border," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who will chair that committee come January, posted on X on Monday.

"The bill will be transformational, it will be paid for, and it will go first," he added.

What to watch: The second proposed package will deal with extending the Trump-era tax cuts and is expected to be far more complicated to work out.

It's not clear whether Republicans will be as serious about trying to offset the total cost of extending those tax breaks in the same way.

Zoom out: There's still disagreement over Thune's approach within the party.

Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, has criticized the plan and said he expects just one big reconciliation package next year.
But senators seem to be backing the idea.

https://www.axios.com/2024/12/10/joh...-deficit-trump