In the final week of the Senate's scheduled session before the holiday break, Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) made their case for a border deal on Sunday. However, the progress of ongoing border talks remains unclear as the deadline approaches.

During an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Senator Murphy criticized the Republican demands as unreasonable, stating that they do not secure Democratic votes. He expressed concerns that Republicans may have tied support for Ukraine to immigration reform, potentially jeopardizing Ukraine aid. Despite these differences, both senators are committed to finding common ground.

The border negotiations have been ongoing for nearly a month, with Republicans conditioning their support for a $106 billion supplemental spending bill on reaching a deal on border policy changes. The bill includes aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, along with funding for border security.

Initial negotiations revealed a significant gap between Senate Democrats and Republicans, but discussions continued last week. Details of Senate Republicans' latest border proposal were obtained by POLITICO, which includes a ban on class-based "parole" and the revival of a form of Title 42 expulsion authorities.

However, Senate Democrats have previously rejected some of these demands, and some remain unhappy about the negotiation of border policy under the current circumstances.

Senator Murphy displayed a willingness to strike a deal on asylum claims, an area that Republicans aim to address. He emphasized the Democratic stance against shutting down the border to legitimate asylum-seekers but acknowledged the need for tightening some rules to manage the large number of daily arrivals.

Moreover, Senator Murphy expects the White House to become more involved in the border talks this week, responding to the growing number of senators calling for it. However, it remains uncertain if President Biden will personally intervene.

Senator Lankford, on the other hand, has been reluctant to separate border policy changes from the larger supplemental bill. Senate GOP leadership argues that border security is a crucial aspect of national security and should be included in the package.

As the Senate approaches the end of its scheduled session, there is a likelihood that an additional week may be added to pass the supplemental bill by year-end. The urgency to address other parts of the bill, such as Ukraine aid, increases the pressure on reaching a consensus on border policy changes.

While the progress of border talks between senators remains uncertain, the final week ahead will test their ability to bridge the differences and find a resolution on border policy that satisfies both parties.