As the holiday season approaches, Democrats and Republicans are frantically trying to find common ground on border policy changes before Senators leave town. However, significant differences between the two parties are casting doubt on the possibility of reaching a deal.

President Joe Biden has been urging Congress to pass his national security supplemental request, which includes funding for Ukraine, Israel, and border security, among other priorities. Biden emphasized the importance of these funds for Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia and for the overall national security of the United States.

Negotiators from both sides of the aisle have been engaged in heated discussions regarding tighter immigration restrictions and supplemental funding for Ukraine and Israel. Republicans are steadfast in their demand for changes to be made at the US southern border, where the influx of migrants has severely strained federal resources, before moving forward with funding for Ukraine.

Senator Lindsey Graham expressed his party's concerns, stating on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Republicans feel "jammed" and that a deal is nowhere in sight. He predicted that negotiations may extend into next year.

To highlight the challenges faced by negotiators, 15 GOP senators, including Graham, have called for a special conference meeting in January to discuss the ongoing talks. In a letter addressed to Senator John Barrasso, Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, these senators criticized the "rushed and secret" nature of the negotiations.

If an agreement is not reached before Congress goes on holiday recess, the Biden administration will face difficult decisions regarding the allocation of resources to allies such as Ukraine at the potential expense of US military readiness. The supplemental request also includes $14 billion for border security.

Over the weekend, senior White House officials, led by Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, reached out to both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in an effort to find common ground on border policy changes. However, potential changes to tighten asylum and implement stricter immigration measures face resistance from Democrats, who are concerned about the Biden administration embracing immigration policies reminiscent of the Trump era.

White House officials, including Zients and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, held a call with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to address the growing concerns over the direction of border talks.

Key sticking points in the negotiations include implementing metrics to trigger the expulsion of migrants at the US-Mexico border, limiting the use of parole, and mandating detention. Other proposals under consideration entail raising the credible fear standard for asylum seekers and expanding the use of a fast-track deportation procedure.

Republicans have also shown renewed interest in a safe-third country agreement, which would prevent migrants from seeking asylum in the US if they have passed through other countries before arriving at the US border.

For President Biden, the political landscape becomes increasingly complex. Losing support from the Democratic base could have repercussions in the upcoming midterm elections, while inaction on border security issues may have far-reaching consequences. Migrant apprehensions along the US-Mexico border have reached record highs during Biden's presidency, which Republicans will undoubtedly utilize as ammunition in the 2024 presidential election.

While the issue of immigration has been a longstanding impasse between Republicans and Democrats, the current border agreement negotiations focus primarily on narrower aspects compared to previous discussions, where increased border security funding often coincided with the legalization of undocumented immigrants already residing in the US.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin expressed optimism about the ongoing talks, stating that he is "very encouraged" by the progress made. He emphasized the necessity for bipartisan collaboration in the House in order to achieve legislative success regarding challenging immigration-related issues.

As the clock ticks, the fate of border policy changes remains uncertain, leaving both parties to grapple with tough decisions and the potential ramifications of failing to address the urgent issue at hand.