Senators are racing to win support for a border deal as aid to Ukraine hangs in the balance

By STEPHEN GROVES
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate negotiators are laboring to win support for a deal on border policy as they enter what could be a pivotal stretch for a painstakingly negotiated compromise that could open the door for Republican support to replenish U.S. wartime aid for Ukraine. A core group of negotiators has been laboring for nearly two months over changes to U.S. border and immigration policy and hoped to unveil the legislation later this week. But the bipartisan group is treading on one of the most explosive issues in American politics, and the legislation already faces heavy skepticism from the wings of both political parties. Republican Senate leaders say they do not expect to vote on the bill this week as negotiations turn to funding the policy changes.