Its not a cop out. Name an issue and there will be ppl telling you they are willing to negotiate as long as you do everything I want first. Thats just dumb and you know it.
Demanding border enforcement first, not negotiating anything, and then doing nothing just makes sure the issue is as bad or worse later.
Middle of the road has to be an option on all issues this big or nothing ever gets done. So, making intial demands that must be met before continuing forward at all is a very quick way of making sure exactly nothing happens. Again, you know that.