A bipartisan group of senators has agreed on a compromise to crack down on the surge of migrants across the United States border with Mexico, including reducing the number who are allowed to live and work in the country temporarily, but a final deal depends on resolving critical funding disputes. Much of the recent haggling over the emerging agreement — and a point of contention for its critics — has been about how to limit the number of people who are granted parole, a status that allows migrants without visas to live and work in the United States temporarily. Drawing broader support for the plan in the Senate would clear away the biggest obstacle to congressional approval of tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine for its war against Russian aggression, which Republicans have said they will block absent a deal to clamp down at the border. Bipartisan talks are largely done and have advanced to the Senate Appropriations Committee signaling talks are entering a potential final phase. It is not yet clear when an agreement might be finalized or when the Senate would be able to hold a vote. Any potential deal already faces long odds in the Republican-controlled House and the cost of the package could add to the challenge of striking an agreement and pushing for its passage.
While the Senate waits, work on nominations continues with the Senate on track to confirm three nominees to the Amtrak board of directors by the end of the day today before moving on to three district judges later in the week. The Senate is expected to take up the nomination of Christopher Koos to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years, the nomination of Anthony Rosario Coscia to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years and the nomination of Joel Matthew Szabat to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.
The House is in recess this week and is expected to return for votes on Monday, January 29th.
