Lawmakers faced a setback in finalizing an agreement on a border security framework over the weekend, which was intended to be included in the national security supplemental package. The negotiations were postponed as GOP lawmakers linked border reform to the passage of aid to Ukraine.

In an effort to continue discussions, the upper chamber canceled part of its holiday recess and scheduled a vote on the aid package for this week, with a revised border framework. However, reaching a deal before Christmas seems to be a considerable challenge.

Lead negotiators, including Sen. James Lankford from Oklahoma, Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut, and Sen. Krysten Sinema from Arizona, engaged in negotiations over the weekend with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in the office of Democrat Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Although progress has been made, no written proposal has been reached yet, according to a statement by Sen. Sinema on Sunday.

Border security is an intricate area of law in the United States, as highlighted by Sen. Sinema. She emphasized the need for caution and accuracy in order to avoid unintended consequences and long periods of litigation. The complexity of the issue has been acknowledged by lawmakers from both parties.

Sen. Murphy expressed concerns about rushing the process, stating that no one should vote on the package without sufficient time to review the text. This complaint has been reiterated by GOP lawmakers, who have cautioned against a rushed vote, even if an agreement is reached this week.

In response to the secrecy surrounding negotiations, 15 Republican senators wrote a letter to Sen. John Barrasso, requesting a conference meeting to discuss the negotiations with Democrats. The meeting is proposed for the week of January 8, when Congress is scheduled to reconvene after the holiday break.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell notified his colleagues that Sen. Schumer may introduce a motion to reconsider the vote on the "shell" of the supplemental bill. However, there has been no confirmation regarding the timing of the vote.

The lack of specific text and adequate review time poses a hurdle to successful legislation, according to McConnell. He asserted that without proper assessment, any legislative efforts would likely fail.

Sen. Lankford criticized the slow response from the White House in engaging in the negotiations. He emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive approach to border security, stating that effective management of the border is crucial.

Even if Sen. Schumer proceeds with a procedural vote this week to move the package forward, GOP senators have indicated their intent to block its advancement. A minimum of 60 votes is typically required for legislation to pass in the upper chamber. Furthermore, the package would then need to clear the GOP-controlled House, where Speaker Mike Johnson has already stated that he does not intend to rush a deal before Christmas.

These ongoing talks involve senators and officials from the Biden administration. Republicans have refused to approve an additional $60 billion in aid to Ukraine unless it is accompanied by strict border security measures. Examples of these measures include immediate screenings for asylum processing, an increase in detention beds, and expeditious expulsions for illegal entrants. The requested supplemental aid by the White House, totaling around $106 billion and including $14 billion for Israel, has been under negotiation.

Last week, CBS reported that the White House was open to mandating the detention of certain migrants during the consideration of their claims, as well as implementing a new authority similar to Title 42. Title 42 was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed for the swift expulsion of migrants at the southern border. However, the Biden administration ended the policy in May.

Despite the ongoing negotiations, reaching a final agreement on the border security framework and aid package remains a challenge. Talks are set to continue on Monday, with hopes of making further progress, but the complexities of the issue and the need for thorough review may extend discussions into the new year.