Hopes in Congress for a breakthrough deal on immigration that would avert a potential government shutdown are fading with only a few hours left before federal funding expires at midnight.

The Senate is scheduled to vote at 10 p.m. on a four-week spending stopgap passed Thursday by the House but it is expected to fall well short of the 60 votes needed to advance.

So far, only three Democrats, Sens. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Gardner on court vacancy: Country needs to mourn Ginsburg 'before the politics begin' Barrett seen as a front-runner for Trump Supreme Court pick MORE (W.Va.), Joe Donnelly Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Barrett seen as a front-runner for Trump Supreme Court pick Ex-Sen. Joe Donnelly endorses Biden MORE (Ind.) and Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampCentrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama MORE (N.D.), have said they will vote yes.

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Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerVideo of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral Graham signals support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee this year Pelosi orders Capitol flags at half-staff to honor Ginsburg MORE (N.Y.) told reporters after meeting with President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE at the White House that “a good number of disagreements” remain, dashing hopes of a quick solution to the impasse.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Top GOP senator calls for Biden to release list of possible Supreme Court picks MORE (Ill.), emerging from an afternoon meeting with Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Trump is betting big on the suburbs, but his strategy is failing 'bigly' Trump orders flags at half-staff to honor 'trailblazer' Ginsburg MORE (Calif.) said “everything is on the table.”

Durbin said there were “some positive developments,” but added, “I still think there’s ongoing conversations.”

Instead of agreeing to a framework on immigration that Democrats could use to justify voting for a temporary government funding measure, Trump told Schumer to work out his differences with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Trump expects to nominate woman to replace Ginsburg next week Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral MORE (R-Ky.) and Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE (R-Wis.), essentially putting the talks back to square one.

“The president did the right thing. He told him look, you go back and you talk to the speaker and the Senate majority leader, and you guys work that out,” Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn John CornynCalls grow for Biden to expand election map in final sprint Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection MORE (R-Texas) said, summarizing the discussion between Trump and Schumer.

A senior Senate Democratic aide said Durbin’s claim that “everything is on the table” meant negotiators still have to close out agreements on the spending caps and disaster relief, in addition to immigration reform.

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Both Schumer and Durbin appeared deflated by the outcome of the White House meeting.

At the very least, a quick fix on immigration does not seem likely.

White House budget director Mick Mulvaney Mick MulvaneyMick Mulvaney to start hedge fund Fauci says positive White House task force reports don't always match what he hears on the ground Bottom line MORE, in a CNN interview, said negotiators have Saturday and Sunday to reach a deal because the impact of a government shutdown would not be felt until federal offices are scheduled to open Monday.

“I think there’s a deal in the next 24 hours,” he said, adding, “I look at it more in terms of what gets done before offices are supposed to open on Monday.”

But lawmakers are less confident about a deal emerging in the next few hours.

“Honestly, I wish I knew,” said Sen. James Lankford James Paul LankfordMcConnell works to lock down GOP votes for coronavirus bill Charities scramble to plug revenue holes during pandemic Warren calls for Postal Service board members to fire DeJoy or resign MORE (R-Okla.), who has been involved in the immigration talks, when asked about the prospect of a compromise.

“I can’t tell what they’re asking for,” he said of Democratic demands on immigration.

Democrats say they have been clear: They want to give legal status to an estimated 800,000 "Dreamers," saving them from deportation.

They want to pass an immigration deal agreed to by a bipartisan group of six senators.

But Trump and a majority of the Senate GOP conference says that bill doesn’t do enough to strengthen border security or enforce the law against people who slip into the country illegally.

It will be a heavy lift to get an immigration agreement hammered out in the next day, however.

The No. 2-ranking leaders in both chambers, Durbin, Cornyn, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyTrump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill Trump's sharp words put CDC director on hot seat MORE (R-Calif.) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton HoyerHouse Democrats postpone vote on marijuana decriminalization bill Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE (D-Md.), were supposed to be handling the immigration talks.

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But as of 6 p.m., they hadn’t yet met on Friday. A meeting that had been scheduled for 11:30 am was pushed back to 1 p.m. and then postponed indefinitely.

Republicans involved in the immigration negotiations say there’s still a lot of work to be done.



“We’ve got to get serious. It’s been really weird. They haven’t wanted to be serious,” Lankford said of Democrats’ attitude in the negotiations.

He said Democrats are using an outdated playbook from 2013, when they passed comprehensive immigration reform through the Senate with unanimous Democratic support and votes from 14 Republicans.

“Their assumption is this is like 2013, and this is going to be a big Democratic bill with a few Republicans on board and we’ll rush it through and force the president to [sign] it,” he said.

Lankford said the political environment has changed dramatically over the past five years as Republicans now control the White House, Senate and House. In 2013, Republicans controlled the House only.



Democrats, however, counter that Republicans are the ones who have not been serious about replacing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that Trump rescinded in September.

Durbin says Trump gave Congress six months to help immigrants who came to the country at a young age and now face deportation. The March 5 deadline is fast approaching.

“What has the Republican majority in the House and Senate done in the four and a half months since we received that challenge form President Trump? Nothing,” Durbin said from the Senate floor.



Republicans still think Democrats will buckle under pressure and vote for a four-week House-passed spending measure that would keep the government open until Feb. 16. It would also fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years and delay the implementation of three unpopular ObamaCare taxes.

White House legislative affairs director Marc Short told reporters Friday that the president wants to sign the monthlong House stopgap measure.