So here's a solution... The democrats give Trump the 5.7 billion on the condition that the other solutions (employer penalties, mandatory e-verify, stronger vetting, et al) get implemented. IF they're truly interested in meaningful reform beyond just "open up the borders and abolish ICE", that would be a win for them, right? Think that'll happen?
I wish something like that would happen - but its kinda too reasonable.
And the 3rd rail is the issue of illegals already here, who have carved out an otherwise law-abiding and productive life. The hard-right Republicans hate any whiff of pathway-to-citizenship. One of the few policy-level things where Trump and I align (I think) is that something needs to happen for them that is based on decency.