IMMIGRATION

deal. Gutierrez is himself incensed over the White House’s proposal to give all DACA beneficiaries a path to citizenship in exchange for reducing legal immigration to the lowest level in almost a century and erecting a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

But Gutierrez, a hero to pro-DACA activists, has also said he’s willing to accept a compromise bill.

And if he accepts one, other Democrats might come along, too.

• Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois. He has fought for years for legislation to protect DACA beneficiaries from deportation, and Democrats continue to be confident that he will be a good-faith negotiator with Republicans. At the same time, fellow Democrats know Durbin won’t sign on to any deal that doesn’t have their support.

• Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Although Cornyn is now one of the negotiators on immigration legislation, he has consistently represented in leadership ranks the voices of conservatives who want a deal aligned with the far-right base. Cornyn could continue to be a voice of reason among Senate Republicans about what can and can’t be accomplished if they want to avoid intraparty warfare.

• Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C. If Cornyn is helping guide Republicans in the Senate, Meadows is helping steer Republicans in the House toward a deal that conservatives can accept. As the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who regularly communicates with members of the Trump administration, Meadows is positioned to provide the pressure necessary to influence House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

• Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. Early public signs that Diaz-Balart was engaging in current immigration negotiations came last month, when he was invited to two Oval Office meetings to discuss the issue. Other than that, he has had a relatively low profile in this round of discussions — although that is how Diaz-Balart has typically behaved on immigration matters.

In 2014, Diaz-Balart was within striking distance of persuading House Republican leaders to put a comprehensive immigration bill on the floor, an effort that fizzled after the surprise primary defeat of Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. Three and a half years later, he could be making moves to build consensus on the issue again.