EAGLE PASS, Texas (AP) - U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is leading about 60 fellow Republicans in Congress on a visit Wednesday to the Mexican border as they demand hard-line immigration policies in exchange for backing President Joe Biden's emergency wartime funding request for Ukraine. The trip to Eagle Pass, Texas, comes as Senate negotiators keep plugging away in hopes of a bipartisan deal.

The number of illegal crossings into the United States topped 10,000 on several days last month, bringing the border city of Eagle Pass into focus. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star, a nearly $10 billion initiative, has put the federal government's authority over immigration to the test and intensified the political fight over the issue.

This visit to the border by House Speaker Johnson and fellow Republicans takes place amidst ongoing talks in Washington aimed at reaching a bipartisan agreement. Such an agreement would unlock GOP support for President Biden's $110 billion package for Ukraine, Israel, and other U.S. security priorities. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz), James Lankford (R-Okla), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn) are currently engaged in negotiations, hoping to make progress before Congress returns to Washington next week.

The stance that Johnson has taken on border and immigration policies remains unclear regarding the acceptance of a potential bipartisan deal from the Senate. Johnson has previously called for "transformational" changes in these areas and has supported a House bill, passed without any Democratic votes in May, that seeks to build more of the border wall and impose new restrictions on asylum seekers. Democrats have labeled the legislation as "cruel" and "anti-immigrant," with President Biden promising a veto.

President Biden, however, has expressed a willingness to make compromises on policies, especially considering the increasing challenge posed by the historic number of migrants crossing the border, which could impact his 2024 reelection campaign. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House staff have been actively involved in the Senate negotiations.

"We've got to do something," Biden told reporters on Tuesday night, emphasizing the need for Congress to approve his national security proposal, which includes provisions for managing the influx of migrants. He added, "They ought to give me the money I need to protect the border."

Critics argue that Johnson's visit to the border is merely a political ploy that will do little to solve the problem at hand. Administration officials, including Secretary Mayorkas, have labeled the Republican visit as a distraction from the real issue, calling attention to the broken immigration system and the urgent need for legislative reform.

In December, the influx of migrants overwhelmed the resources of Customs and Border Protection officials in Eagle Pass and other locations, leading to the closure of cargo rail crossings and border crossings in certain areas. However, authorities have noted that the numbers have decreased over the December holidays, following a seasonal pattern. Border crossings have reopened, and illegal crossings in Eagle Pass fell to 500 on Monday, according to anonymous administration officials.

Republicans are pressuring President Biden and Democrats to accept stricter border measures, viewing the high number of migrants as a political weakness for the president.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell expressed optimism during a press conference in Kentucky on Tuesday, stating that progress is being made in the ongoing talks. McConnell also highlighted the opportunity for Biden to claim credit for addressing the border issue, stating, "You can't do anything about how old you are, you can't do anything about inflation, but this is something that's measurable that you could claim credit for."

As negotiations continue, lawmakers are hopeful that a bipartisan agreement can be reached to address the immigration challenges at the border, while also ensuring the necessary funding for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security priorities.