Cruz and Feinstein each have introduced their own bill to address the family separation issue, and they take divergent approaches. Cruz’s plan would allow asylum-seeking families to be detained together while expediting court hearings, a problem for Democrats; Feinstein’s legislation would be a return to what the GOP calls a “catch-and-release” policy that conservatives loathe. A third bill, written by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), is similar to Cruz’s bill but codifies exceptions to a 1997 settlement that Democrats argue would lead to indefinite detention.”

During a meeting in Sen. Susan Collins’ (R-Maine) office on Wednesday, senators in both parties discussed requiring the use of ankle bracelets to track families that have been caught crossing the border illegally. So far, Cruz and Feinstein don’t seem to have agreed to much other than to keep meeting as the issue wends its way through the courts. Producing a bill remains a long shot.

Still, Cruz says there is “considerable common” ground with Feinstein about limiting the scope of the immigration debate. And Feinstein says the two have “come a long ways” from their viral tit-for-tat five years ago.