You have an excellent example of the self proclaimed smartest people in the room completely misreading the situation. The House Republicans were always going to demand their pound of flesh for authorizing Ukraine aid, their opening bid was anti-corruption measures IIRC.
It was the choice of either the White House or senate democrats to combine Ukraine aid with the border. This in turn means that Republicans determine what acceptable border security measures are.
One of the saddest pieces of this sad saga was Zelensky being trotted out to try and persuade Republicans to vote for the bill, when he cannot produce any deliverables that the majority of House Republicans care about.
Actually, Speaker Johnson, even B4 he became Speaker, was quite clear that while he felt there were very good reasons to stop Putin, Biden would have to better explain the Administration plan to do so, and provide better accounting. The latter is a bit of a red herring, as we are mostly sending weapons, providing training, etc., compared to actual money sent, but, Johnson’s demands are reasonable. Biden, whether because of ornerynous or deceit, refuses to meet them.
Then Biden had the idea to mush together border legislation with Ukraine. You couldn’t come up with a better plan to insure nothing gets passed, if you pondered it for a month.
As far as the border goes though, y’all are just gullible or worse. Even if a stern bill passes, it won’t matter. The Biden Admin. will subvert it anyway.
Even the “best” bill anyone on FR could write is meaningless until next January, and then only if we get a hardnosed-on-illegal-immigration President in office, backed by Congress.
The best bet is probably for the House, if it can, to quickly pass a standalone bill. Like yesterday. It must include very specific, easily understood policies and actions. NO confusion by mixing in any language about foreign aid. Then use Administration / Dem opposition to the bill against them, in the fall.