Key issues in talks on border

WASHINGTON — Here’s a look at what the White House and key senators are discussing as they work on a border security and immigration deal in exchange for sending more aid to Ukraine:

Tougher asylum claims

Senate negotiators have focused on ensuring migrants who have a credible claim to asylum can safely apply while those who don’t can be quickly turned away.

The senators and the Biden administration have considered toughening the so-called credible fear standard that’s used in the initial interviews to determine if migrants seeking asylum would likely have a winnable case before an immigration judge.

Border security

Billions of dollars of funding for border security will almost certainly be part of any deal.

President Joe Biden initially proposed $14 billion to bolster border security, including $3.1 billion for additional border agents, asylum officers and immigration judges teams, but Republicans said money was not enough.

Reducing border buildup

One of the toughest issues to resolve has been how to dissuade migrants from embarking on their journeys to the U.S. in the first place, particularly from countries experiencing unrest, economic calamity or widespread gang violence.

In talks, the White House has insisted on keeping in place its ability to allow 30,000 people a month from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti entry into the U.S. if they have a financial sponsor and fly into the country. The idea is to create a more orderly, efficient asylum system that reduces chaos at the border.

Enforcement

Negotiators have run into trouble over enforcement measures. One potential compromise would set a threshold for the number of border crossings, and once the number is reached, stricter enforcement measures would take effect.

Under that system, if the crossings get too high authorities would shut down the border for asylum claims, enable fast-track removals of migrants who have already entered unlawfully, and detain some migrants while they are screened for valid asylum claims.

Funding could also go to bolstering immigration enforcement, including detention facilities, according to one person familiar with the private negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity.