Sunday night, Senate leaders finally emerged from months of secretive, closed-door negotiations to unveil a $20.23 billion, 370-page border security deal.  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer rhapsodized of his GOP counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, that he had “never worked more closely with Leader McConnell on any piece of legislation as we did on this."  The Kentucky Republican, in turn, urged his fractious caucus to take immediate action, warning that “America’s sovereignty is being tested here at home, and our credibility is being tested by emboldened adversaries around the world."

Republican reaction was swift.  Utah Senator Mike Lee condemned the border compromise as a "betrayal," thundering on his X social media feed, "We need new leadership -- Now."  Texas Senator Ted Cruz pronounced the bill "an utter disaster."  Hour by hour, the GOP denunciations poured in, culminating in a frantic emergency meeting that reportedly devolved into a shouting match.  By Monday night, McConnell was forced to climb down from his border bill blunder.  The proposal now appears all but dead.

Republicans wanted a solution to the migrant crisis.  Democrats wanted a reprieve from the public's displeasure.  Voters now say that immigration is the number one issue facing the country.  Few, however, trust Joe Biden to fix it.  Without the hoped-for Congressional action to provide political cover, the President may finally have to pick up his pen and his phone.