Republicans attempt to get hardline border security bill into foreign aid package

 Some Senate Republicans are pushing to add tougher border security measures to the foreign aid bill after signing a bipartisan immigration deal.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Thursday filed an amendment to add tougher border security measures to the Foreign Aid Standalone National Security Supplement Package, which would send billions of dollars to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

Cruz said, "It is important that Russia is defeated and (Vladimir) Putin is defeated, but it is even more important that we defend our nation first. I will give military aid to Ukraine, but only if we protect America's own Will take meaningful measures to secure the border." told Fox News Digital.

Cruz's amendment to H.R. 2, known as the “Border Secure Act,” the border security bill the House passed last year to restore most Trump-era policies and reform asylum.

It is considered a "nonstarter" by Democrats in the upper chamber, giving it little chance of passage. It is unclear whether the amendment will even get a vote.

"H.R. 2 is the only serious border legislation that has been considered in this Congress, and it includes real solutions to the border crisis like building the wall, tightening asylum standards, reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy , increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, and more,” Cruz said.

Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he would allow Republicans to offer amendments, although the program is still up in the air.

"I'm hopeful that our Republican colleagues can work with us to reach an agreement on amendments so we can move this process forward," Schumer said on the House floor Friday. "Democrats here in the House are willing to consider fair and impartial amendments as we have shown on numerous occasions over the past three years. Nevertheless, the Senate will continue to work on this bill until the job is done."

However, behind the scenes, several aides told Fox News Digital on Friday that they had "no idea" what was happening, as "the schedule is still very fluid."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also expressed support for adding HR2 to the package in a post on X.

Cornyn voted against including the long-awaited bipartisan border bill in the foreign aid package on Wednesday, but indicated he could support Ukraine aid without any border security measures.

“This bill is simply not perfect,” Cornyn wrote. "I am disappointed that the Senate border proposal fails to actually secure our border, and I am pushing to add HR2 to this legislation. But we cannot stop President Biden's disappointing border policy from supporting our troops and allies. Can't stop."

Senators this week passed a revised national security supplemental package by a 49-50 vote, which also included a bipartisan border bill introduced by Senators James Lankford, R-Okla.; Kristen Sinema, I-Ariz.; And Chris Murphy, D-Conn., met with Biden officials for talks.

After the national security supplement with border provisions failed, Schumer brought a $95 billion foreign aid bill to the House as a Plan B, which advanced in a 67-32 cloture vote on Wednesday.

The package includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza and about $5 billion for the Indo-Pacific.

Many Republicans had previously said they would not approve additional funding for Ukraine unless the embattled southern border was secured first.

The Senate will hold more procedural votes Friday and over the weekend. The vote is also expected to take place on Super Bowl Sunday and aides told Fox News Digital that a vote for final passage is possible as soon as Tuesday.

Israel, Ukraine foreign aid bill clears first hurdle in Senate without border and immigration provisions

Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a strong supporter of supporting Ukraine, advocated for funding for Ukraine and voted to advance the bill, but was criticized by party members who asked lawmakers. Urged them not to pass foreign aid without first securing the border.

After senators voted to reject the border bill, McConnell said he "followed the direction" of the GOP conference who were insisting that we deal with it in October.

"I mean, this is really our side that wants to deal with the border issue," McConnell said this week.