to lead talks on how to stem the surge in illegal border crossings. those crossings reaching historic proportions with authorities routinely reporting 10,000 encounter a day. the influx is in border authorities, 10,000 in custody right now. so stretched are resources, customs and border patrol had to close two major railway crossings and other ports of entry so they can shuffle agents to busier points along the border. $43 billion in trailed a year are carried on those two rail lines alone. no telling how politically costly an extended closure could be. with congress on holiday, talks for a comprehensive border package have installed, and with them, hopes for ukraine and israel aid. republicans say funding for those embattled nations must be paired with measures to secure the u.s. mexico border. it s a quid pro quo triggering a backlash who fear an asylum and refugee crackdown could hurt the party among latino voters. joining us now, nbc news correspondent guad venegas who s