Vice President Pence was in Texas on Friday where he toured the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenDHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections Democrats smell blood with new DHS whistleblower complaint MORE.

During his trip, Pence held a roundtable discussion with local law enforcement on the challenges of enforcing border security and visited the Hidalgo Port of Entry, a major crossing between the U.S. and Mexico.

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Pence tweeted Friday that securing the United States' southern border was a matter of "vital national security."

"Heading to Texas to survey our nation’s border with @DHSgov @SecNielsen and to be briefed on potential security threats by U.S. Customs & Border Protection. It’s a matter of vital national security that we secure our border," Pence wrote.

Pence's trip to the border comes amid bipartisan discussions in Washington about an immigration deal, which Republicans and Democrats are hoping to reach before March 5.

That's the deadline that 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 gave lawmakers to protect young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children currently covered under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which Trump announced last year that he would end.

Earlier this week, a centrist immigration proposal spearheaded by GOP Sens. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day MORE (Maine), Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style MORE (Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE (S.C.) failed in the Senate by a vote of 54-45, while a proposal based on the White House immigration framework failed by a vote of 39-60. Both proposals needed 60 votes to overcome a procedural hurdle.

The Trump administration has indicated it is unlikely to extend DACA protections if Congress does not reach a deal before March.