WASHINGTON - A growing number of Hispanic and Latino members of Congress, along with advocacy groups, are expressing increasing concern over the possibility that President Joe Biden may make a deal with Republicans on immigration that they find unacceptable. The fear stems from the desire to secure passage of Biden's high-priority Ukraine and Israel aid package.

According to a Capitol Hill Democrat familiar with the negotiations, there is concern that the president may accept border policy changes proposed by Republicans that are deemed "unimaginably cruel." This fear has prompted the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) to demand an urgent meeting with the White House, though it has yet to materialize, despite the president's presence in Washington during that period.

Senior administration officials have been prioritizing direct communication with lawmakers involved in the negotiations, such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as Sens. James Lankford, Chris Murphy, and Kyrsten Sinema. The White House acknowledges the urgency and plans to intensify outreach to Capitol Hill this week, but it depends on having a clear framework to work from, which has not yet emerged.

The frustration within the CHC has been growing for some time. Democratic senators in the group have held meetings with Schumer, expressing their doubts about Republicans negotiating in good faith and warning that proposed immigration restrictions could cause division within the Democratic caucus in an important election year.

Some members of the CHC feel that the issue of immigration should potentially be separated from the broader foreign aid package. The emerging details of the talks have raised concerns among caucus members, who see it as contradictory to Biden's promises regarding border policies during his campaign.

The lack of engagement from the administration has disappointed some border legislators, who argue that they understand their districts' needs best. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico stated that the CHC members deserve to have a say in the bill before being forced to vote on it without any input or influence.

Rep. Robert Menendez Jr. of New Jersey expressed his strong opposition to permanently altering the asylum system and denying migrants the legal process, labelling such actions as completely unacceptable. He called on Biden and Senate Democrats to make it clear to Republicans that aid for allies should not be used as a bargaining chip at the expense of American ideals as a nation of immigrants.

The backlash from immigration advocacy groups was swift after the White House appeared willing to concede on certain provisions that would limit the eligibility of migrants to claim asylum in the United States. Critics argued that the concessions would essentially adopt Trump-era policies on the border, which they consider devastating for those seeking safety.

The White House and the Department of Homeland Security, however, emphasize the urgency of taking action on immigration now, even if it is not perfect, as a delay could pave the way for more severe policies in the future. They also highlight the need for more funding and detention space for Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Negotiations restarted on Thursday, focusing on two main aspects: restrictions on asylum and the president's ability to temporarily admit refugees under humanitarian parole. Senate Democratic negotiators have made significant concessions on asylum restrictions, while the talks have stalled on GOP demands regarding parole. Republicans are concerned about the abuse of parole and want explicit limits placed on its use, with exceptions for Cubans.

As the negotiations continue, the Hispanic Caucus and advocacy groups will be closely monitoring the developments, seeking assurance that any deal reached will align with their objectives and priorities.