GOP Demands for Immigration Changes Put U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine in Jeopardy

Negotiations over a bipartisan agreement to provide continued U.S. military assistance to Ukraine are in danger of stalling due to Republican demands for major changes to the nation’s immigration laws and border policies.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who is leading the discussions for Republicans, said Monday that progress is being made but that “every day” that goes by without a deal “makes it more complicated” to reach one. Lankford added that there is “no way” to get an agreement done this week, before the Senate is scheduled to adjourn for the rest of the year.

The debate over the aid package is slipping into an election year, which could make it even harder to secure a bipartisan agreement. President Joe Biden’s package of aid to Ukraine and Israel could falter with it.

Leading progressive lawmakers on Monday urged President Biden to reject the sharp limits on immigration sought by congressional Republicans in exchange for their support for the aid package. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making another visit to D.C. this week to appeal to Congress to approve over $60 billion in aid.

The GOP’s demands for changes to immigration laws and border policies are jeopardizing the passage of an emergency national security spending package by year’s end, when U.S. assistance to Ukraine is expected to run dry. Negotiators are running out of time to reach a deal before the end of the year, and it is unclear if the package will be able to pass in the election year.