A bipartisan effort in the United States Senate to secure votes for a bill that would link immigrant rights with military assistance to Ukraine is encountering significant obstacles, with neither Democrats nor Republicans showing support. The proposed plan, which was reported yesterday, aims to attach a border enforcement component to President Joe Biden's $106 billion supplemental funding request.

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut expressed his dissatisfaction with the negotiations, calling the position "ridiculous." He emphasized his concerns about connecting aid for Israel and Ukraine with resolving domestic immigration issues, stating that it was an unfortunate move.

This latest negotiation is part of ongoing attempts by Democrats to address Republican criticisms of President Biden's approach to the southern border. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is seeking to secure funding for Ukraine while appeasing skeptical Republicans regarding the ongoing conflict.

The Gang of Four, a group of negotiators involved in these discussions, includes Senator Chris Murphy, who chairs the appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding immigration operations at the Department of Homeland Security. The other members are Senators Thom Tillis from North Carolina, Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona, and James Lankford from Oklahoma, an immigration hardliner with close ties to Donald Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller.

The exclusion of Hispanic Caucus senators, who have historically participated in bipartisan negotiations on migrant policy issues, has caused discontent. Senator Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico highlighted the importance of including the ideas, expertise, and inclusion of the four Democratic Latino senators in the negotiations.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has not played a significant role in the talks, despite facing no electoral threats after winning her reelection in Nevada last year. Additionally, Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, a vocal supporter of migrant rights, has been sidelined due to criminal charges.

Senator Tillis portrayed the negotiations as a conflict between himself and Senator Alex Padilla of California, stating that Padilla aimed to legalize 14 million people. However, Padilla countered by stating that there was no agreement and emphasized the importance of considering legalization if negotiations were to continue.

In a joint statement issued by Senator Padilla and Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, they insisted that any permanent changes to asylum rights should include a clear pathway to legalization for long-standing undocumented immigrants.

Notably, right-wing groups such as Heritage Action have expressed opposition to funding Ukraine's military, which could impact the prospects of any Senate bill in the House. Heritage Action President Kevin Roberts asserted that negotiations with Democrats who support open border policies undermine Republican unity and effective policy solutions.

Criticism has also arisen from within the Republican party, with some viewing the proposed immigration compromise as a mere cover for providing Ukraine funding. A Senate GOP aide described it as "not about the border, but rather a fig leaf for funding Ukraine."

A senior Democratic aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity, admitted that the proposed bill is unlikely to satisfy anyone involved in the negotiations. Its future remains uncertain as both sides continue to grapple with diverging interests and disagreements.

As the discussions unfold, the fate of the bipartisan plan and its potential impacts on immigrant rights and military assistance to Ukraine hang in the balance.