U.S. Sen. John Cornyn eyes the seemingly impossible: a bipartisan deal on immigration

The U.S.-Mexico border on Jan. 9 in Sunland Park, New Mexico. To the left is Sunland Park, a checkpoint next to El Paso; to the right are the outskirts of Ciudad Ju?rez, Mexico.

Credit:
Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

Cornyn looks through the border barrier from El Paso into Ciudad Ju?rez, M?xico, during a night tour on Jan. 9 led by the National Border Patrol Council.

Credit:
Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

The game plan

Cornyn and other senators serve dinner to local law enforcement officers in El Paso on Jan. 9 for National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

Credit:
Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

Cornyn and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., listen during a roundtable discussion Jan. 9 in El Paso with other senators, officials from the city, representatives from local nonprofits, law enforcement officials and other stakeholders. From left: U.S. Sens. James Lankford, R-Okla.; Chris Coons, D-Del.; Cornyn; Sinema; and Lankford.

Credit:
Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

The impossible task

A city’s limits

A man cleans the area outside Sacred Heart Church on Jan. 9 in El Paso.

Credit:
Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texa