In a bid to secure funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, President Joe Biden is facing an uphill battle as he navigates through an intraparty Democratic fight over border security. White House officials visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to endorse negotiations on new border restrictions, which Republicans have insisted on before approving aid to Ukraine. However, Hispanic legislators and immigrant advocates are expressing deep concerns that the president may agree to restrictive border regulations resembling former President Donald Trump's agenda in order to secure billions of dollars for Ukraine.

The issue at hand is the potential concessions that the White House may make to Republicans, such as permanent changes to asylum and other aspects of border policy. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) expressed her concerns, stating, "I am concerned about how far the White House will go in agreeing to the concessions that the Republicans want... It's pretty frustrating."

The Democratic party is facing a new reality, where bipartisan deals with a handful of Republicans are no longer the norm. With a Republican-controlled House and Speaker Mike Johnson in power, any workable agreement is likely to make the left uncomfortable in some way. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) acknowledged this reality, stating, "The president's got to be moving in ways that are disruptive... And that's going to cause some consternation within our party."

The exclusion of the Hispanic Caucus from the negotiations has struck a nerve within the influential Democratic bloc. They have requested a meeting with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, which has yet to be fulfilled. Despite one-on-one calls with Hispanic Caucus members, including CHC Chair Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) and Senator Bob Menendez, the calls have not satisfied the Caucus's expectations for greater consultation and specific details about the negotiations.

Progressive lawmakers and members of the Hispanic Caucus have expressed their denouncement of reported concessions made by the White House during the talks. Notably, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) stated, "I'm an absolute no on any bill that's going to change asylum status... We shouldn't be scapegoating immigrant lives over our supplemental."

The internal clash within the Democratic party poses significant challenges for the White House, as a rebellion from progressives could impede a final deal. The House, in particular, presents higher hurdles as opposition from both liberals on border policy and conservatives against Ukraine funding could create a toxic combination.

It remains unclear how the negotiations will unfold, as White House officials and Senate negotiators have yet to finalize their proposals. However, discussions have included topics such as expulsion authority, changes to asylum, expedited removal, and mandatory detention. These discussions have alarmed progressives who see a potential for the Biden administration to implement policies that resemble those of former President Trump.

The party divide presents a critical moment for President Biden's leadership. With his sagging approval ratings and challenging polling in battleground states, the president can argue that a border deal is both good policy and good politics. However, liberals disagree, with Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) stating that Biden has more to risk by alienating his supporters who oppose Trump-era immigration policies.

Republicans, on the other hand, believe that Biden will ultimately want a deal, despite objections from within his own party. Key White House aides and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas are heavily involved in the negotiations, further fueling GOP hopes for Biden's intervention.

As the negotiations continue, advocacy groups, including immigrant rights organizations and youth voter organizations, are speaking out against the talks. The concern is that extreme concessions on immigration will have negative consequences for critical battleground voters.

It remains to be seen how the Democratic party will navigate this intraparty fight. While some Democratic senators anticipate a split within the party, they are hopeful that a compromise can be reached that the majority can support. For now, the outcome of these negotiations hangs in the balance, with much at stake for both sides.