Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Key Democrat opposes GOP Section 230 subpoena for Facebook, Twitter, Google MORE (R-S.C.) said Sunday that President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE is "open-minded" but noncommittal about a potential deal that would include border security funding and offer protections for young immigrants that Graham has floated to resolve the ongoing government shutdown.

Graham said Trump remained adamant that any agreement must include money for the president's desired wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Graham told reporters outside the White House that he spoke with Trump about a possible arrangement that would include $5 billion for border security, renewable work permits for beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and visas for thousands of individuals on temporary permits.

Graham had a private lunch with the president hours after he suggested on a Sunday show that such a deal could break the impasse that has led to a partial government shutdown.

ADVERTISEMENT

Democrats earlier this year expressed willingness to provide wall funding in exchange for protections for those who benefit from DACA, known as Dreamers, but the deal collapsed after Trump said he would no longer accept the deal.

The Trump administration rescinded DACA last year.

Graham suggested on CNN's "State of the Union" a "three-year one-time renewable work permit for the DACA population" could be included in a potential deal, which was part of the BRIDGE Act Graham and Sen. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Feinstein 'surprised and taken aback' by suggestion she's not up for Supreme Court fight Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (D-Ill.) previously introduced in the Senate. Graham also suggested action could be included to protect visas for individuals with expiring Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

"So, basically $5 billion for the wall, plus the BRIDGE Act, TPS and some legal changes to do away some of these magnets to illegal immigration ... might save the day in the Senate," he said.

Republicans and Democrats have clashed in recent weeks over Trump's demand for $5 billion in funding for his proposed border wall. The impasse led to a partial government shutdown that has lasted nine days and counting.

Graham said Sunday that Democrats have in the past voted in favor of implementing physical barriers along the border, and suggested Trump's wall proposal should be no different.

"The wall has become a metaphor for border security, and what we’re talking about is a physical barrier where it makes sense," Graham said. "In the past, every Democrat has voted for these physical barriers. It can’t be just about because Trump wants it, we no longer agree with it. There’s nothing immoral about a physical barrier along the border in places that make sense."

Sen. Lindsey Graham: "The wall has become a metaphor for border security" pic.twitter.com/vXrmJpUV52 — CBS News (@CBSNews) December 30, 2018

Asked on Sunday how long the government shutdown might continue, Graham said he didn't know.

Democrats have shown no indication they plan to give into the president's demands for wall funding. A stopgap funding bill that passed the Senate earlier this month contained $1.6 billion for border security.

A bill that passed the House contained Trump's desired $5 billion, but the measure stalled in the Senate.