Jared Kushner is working with Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham to try and broker a bipartisan deal on asylum laws, which could be the next step in Congress’ piecemeal approach to immigration reform after passage of a $4.5 billion border spending bill next week.
Graham, the Senate Judiciary chairman, then delayed a scheduled Thursday committee vote on his own piece of legislation, choosing to take more time to find a centrist approach. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser met with the Democratic whip and Graham on Tuesday to find a bipartisan way forward on asylum changes.
Graham’s bill would require asylum seekers to make their request in Mexico or their country of origination, and supply hundreds more immigration judges. Durbin said Democrats might be able to cut a deal if the legislation doesn’t affect existing child victim protections for migrants, the “Flores” standards for treatment of unaccompanied minors and the overall definition of asylum is not changed.
“I’ve identified to him five or six things that I believe Democrats in the Senate and the House will support. And I’ve begged him: Take it,” Durbin said on Wednesday of his discussions with Graham. “Nothing is going to change this overnight. Nothing. What we’ve suggested, I think, moves in the right direction.”
Graham said Durbin asked him to find a bipartisan way forward.
“I’m going to postpone the markup and see if we can find some kind of way,” Graham said. “I feel the need to try. [Durbin]’s asked to try, we’ll try.”
A White House official said Kushner attended what was described as a “listening session” at Graham’s request. The official reiterated that the White House’s position on asylum or other immigration issues have not changed.
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