The Duopoly Fights Over DACA Bill As Another Government Shutdown Looms
During a press briefing, Press Secretary Sanders suggested that DACA recipients "should expect" a bipartisan negotiation to result in their continued legal protection. Congress, however, is struggling to make that claim a reality...
The details of proposed DACA legislation have been under negotiations for quite some time now, with some Senate and House Republicans expressing support for a modified DACA program that would entail border security amendments. A group of legislators from both major political parties have constructed an arrangement that would include some of the concerns of Democrats, who seek to protect the program that prevents the deportation of children of immigrant families, while Republicans are seeking to accommodate Trump's demands for a wall on the southern border. Sen. Jeff Flake (R) has assembled 6 Senators for preliminary negotiations, and claims to have such a bill ready. Dick Durbin (D), Sen. Robert Menendez (D), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), and Sen. Cory Gardner (D) were involved in said negotiations, but have been reportedly notified that Trump will not sign the bill, despite claims by Trump that he would sign whatever legislation found his desk.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who supports a "merit-based" immigration system, reportedly says that he will not support a given piece of legislation if it is not supported by Trump. Whether he is openly vying to be a "rubber stamp" for the administration, or attempting to gain the President's support for legislation sponsored by him, is unclear as of yet. If the statement is true, Sen. Graham will abandon this particular attempt.
In the meantime, a federal Judge has blocked the President's attempt to kill the DACA program. Judge William Alsup writes that the motion is "likely to succeed on the merits of their claim...". The President's stand on the issue is uncertain, as before, he wanted to kill DACA, and then in a meeting with bipartisan lawmakers signaled agreement with a motion from Sen. Feinstein to pass a "clean" DACA bill, which, by definition, would include none of the added security measures Trump seems set upon.
In the meantime, a federal Judge has blocked the President's attempt to kill the DACA program. Judge William Alsup writes that the motion is "likely to succeed on the merits of their claim...". The President's stand on the issue is uncertain, as before, he wanted to kill DACA, and then in a meeting with bipartisan lawmakers signaled agreement with a motion from Sen. Feinstein to pass a "clean" DACA bill, which, by definition, would include none of the added security measures Trump seems set upon.
As Congress struggles to find an agreement on the DACA program, yet again we are being told of the threat of another government shutdown. Purportedly, should Congress be unable to come to an agreement, the bill passed on Dec. 21 to fund the government will expire on Jan. 19th.