And just like that …

Could it be starting? Could the president of the United States be of a mind to compromise? And govern? And at the same time help a democracy under attack?

As we were writing the above editorial, CBS News reported that the Biden administration “indicated to congressional lawmakers that it would be willing to support a new border authority to expel migrants without asylum screenings, as well as a dramatic expansion of immigration detention and deportations” in an attempt to blow the dam over Ukraine military aid.

“The White House informed Senate Democrats that it could back those sweeping and hard-line immigration policy changes as part of the negotiations over President Biden’s emergency funding request, a roughly $100 billion package that includes military aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine, as well as money to bolster border enforcement and hire additional immigration officials.”

This might be the way forward. In fact, we’re having trouble figuring out how it won’t be the way forward.

Republicans—a party in control of one-half of one part of the federal government—have been saying for weeks that they would be amenable to providing more billions to help Ukrainians fight off the Russians, but only if there is money (and substantial changes in policy) to help secure our southern border. For some reason, the Democrats have refused to negotiate on this deal. And for some other reason, Republicans have gotten the blame in the national media.

Even the president, when discussing his willingness to compromise now, said the Republicans were “holding Ukraine funding hostage” in the process. Another way to put that: Republicans were negotiating, which often happens in a split government.

Other reports suggest that even if President Biden makes a deal with conservatives in Congress, some in his own party will balk. That’s how much an open border means to some. Let’s hope that “some” isn’t “many.” And let’s hope this deal comes through. Security for more than one country might be at stake.