Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) declared on Sunday that there were “plenty” of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who are willing to work on finding a long-term solution for “Dreamers.” This is counter to what President Trump tweeted earlier in the day regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Trump now maintains that he would no longer support any deal.
“There are plenty of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who stand ready to work with the administration on legislation to protect DACA kids who call America home. Let’s do it,” Flake tweeted.
There are plenty of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who stand ready to work with the administration on legislation to protect DACA kids who call America home. Let’s do it.
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) April 1, 2018
Trump said on Sunday morning that Republicans in the Senate should pass tougher immigration laws and use the “nuclear” option, which would allow a measure to pass on a simple majority vote. The president also said clearly that he is no longer open to a bipartisan DACA deal, even though he previously said he would sign any measure that lawmakers came up with on the controversial issue.
Trump posted this on Twitter: “Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Getting more dangerous. ‘Caravans’ coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!”
Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Getting more dangerous. “Caravans” coming. Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2018
President Trump announced last year that his administration was ending DACA, a program started under former President Obama that allows certain immigrants brought into the country illegally as children to live and work in America without fear of deportation.
Since ending the program, Congress has not been able to reach a long-term solution to fix the measure. There have been multiple bipartisan proposals, but they failed to get the necessary votes.
Trump’s administration proposed offering a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million immigrants along with $25 billion for border security and changes to legal immigration programs. But that plan failed in the Senate.
A federal court issued a ruling earlier this year that blocked the Trump administration from ending DACA. The Supreme Court last month declined to hear the administration’s challenge on the issue, which means the program will remain in place while the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals continues their review.
Do you think Flake is Right? Are there “plenty” ready for a bipartisan deal on DACA?
Credit: The Hill