rejecting a measure to move ahead on# additional funding for Ukraine and Israel.

Republicans have been insisting that foreign aid# be paired with major changes to border security,## but both sides of the aisle failed# to find consensus and now billions of## dollars in aid is stalled until# lawmakers find a way forward.

In the middle of all this is Majority Whip and## Senator from Illinois Dick# Durbin, who jo Senator Durbin, welcome# back.

Thanks for joining us.

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN (D-IL):# Good to be with you, Amn AMNA NAWAZ SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: It's a setback,## but it d The speaker of the Parliament of# Ukraine was in my office today.## He told me what is obvious.

If we# don't provide assistance to Ukraine,## the likelihood of winning the war against Putin# is diminished dramatically.

And co urageous Ukrainians are giving their lives to# defend their country against this war (INAUDIBLE) (APPLAUSE) needs.

We have got to stand with them, and we# have got to do it before the end of the year.

AMNA NAWAZ: So how do you do that before the end# of the year, Senator?

We heard sa y earlier he's open to significant changes# on border policy.

Do y SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: Yes, I do.

Let's# be open-minded about it.

I don't want## to do something that is inconsistent with our# country' We are being overwhelmed at our border# by people seeking to come into the United## States.

We have got to adjust the standards# that are used at the border in a reasonable,## humane way, but we have got to be open to# change, Democrats, as well as Republicans.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, what are some of those# changes you would be willing to compromise## on that you weren't before?

Would they# be tight SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: Well, I would take# a look at the asylum language standards, but I'd be very careful, because there are# people who are genuinely es where their lives are in danger, and we# don't want to ignore that possibility.

But I also want to make sure that we have# a system that makes sense.

If I told you## the countries that are producing immigrants at# our border in the south of the United States, you would be amazed, thousands coming# from places like Uzbekistan.

You think## to yourself, that is not what I expect to hear.

What is happening is an obvious move from around# th (APPLAUSE) We're hearing some applause.

Thank you for# bearing But I should ask you too, as part of those talks,# what about the dreamers, were brought to the U.S. as children?

You have# said that you will fight for them repeatedly,## but they were not included in these last rounds# of talks.

What's your message to them today?

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: Well, I can just tell# you, I think that's a serious mistake.

I have been fighting for these dreamers# for over 2 legislation.

These young people, 800,000 of# them or more, should be part of America's## future.

And we have to do everything we can to# make that happen.

If I get a chance to be part## of this immigration negotiation, and I hope I# will, I will definitely include that request.

AMNA NAWAZ: I want to ask you# too about the aid to Israel.

A significant portion of the emergency ai that security assistance.

As you well know, since# that brutal October 7 attack, Israel's response## has killed more than 15,000 Palestinians.

The# majority are believed to be women and children.

And your colleague Bernie Sanders is now# saying it's absolutely irresponsible to## give Israel unconditional aid.

Do you# believe that aid should be conditioned,## if it means it could save Palestinian lives?

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: Yes, we should# have basic conditions.

And if go ing to provide military# assistance t the United States should make it clear what# the standards of conduct And in the situation in Israel, there's no# question they have a right to defend themselves,## that what happened on October 7 was an atrocity.# But we also are staring at a humanitarian crisis# of epic proportions currently in that area,# with the Palestinian people losing thousands and## thousands of their own; 70 percent of the victims# are women and children, an unheard-of number.

So we have got to say to the# Israelis, yes, defend yourself,## yes, make sure your country is# safe, but do it in a humane fashion.

AMNA NAWAZ: So what does a basic# condition look like to you?

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: The basic condition# would just establish standards for ever country that receives military equipment from# the United States, that they ma they don't focus on civilian casualties, but# only military targets, that they are careful in## the proportionality that they use in using bombs# of a certain size, for example, and that there## would be a serious effort to take precautions# to protect the innocent protect in that country.

These are the standards of humane conduct# in war.

We should expect nothing less.

AMNA NAWAZ: Senator, I have to ask you.

Our colleague Lisa Desjard what we have seen on Capitol Hill this week.# Yesterday, we saw senators br iefing with administration officials,# several Republican senators walking out.## Emotions around the war are certainly high.# We know immigration is a white-hot issue.

And we have just learned, of course, Speaker# -- former Speaker Kevin McCarthy is retiring## at the end of the year.

I just want to ask# you.

The climate on Capitol Hill right now,## have you ever seen anything like this?

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: No, I haven't.

And I created a situation I have never seen before in# all the time that I have served in Congress.

But## there are still people of goodwill trying to solve# real problems facing America and our friends.

I just want to add that it was a terrible meeting# we had yesterday.

We had a much better meeting## today.

I'm hopeful that, despite the gloomy# scenario we seem to face, we can still find## a way to help the Ukrainians and come out# with a good result for the American people.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, do you believe there# will be a deal to move that forward,## to move the aid for Ukraine forward# before you leave for Chris SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: Listen, I'm an optimist.# I wouldn't be in politics if I weren' believe that, if we work at it, before the# end of the year, we can do the right AMNA NAWAZ: Senator Dick Durbin# joining us tonight from Capitol Hill.

Senator, thank you.

Always good to see you.

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN: Thanks, Amna.