Civic Register
| 1.15.18

Is a DACA Deal ‘Dead’?

Join us and tell your reps how you feel!

What’s the story?

President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday that DACA – the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals program – "is probably dead."

Trump blamed the Democrats for its demise.

Trump ended the immigration program in September, giving Congress until March to negotiate a deal.

A deal has yet to be reached.

Why does it matter?

Trump singled out Senator Dick Durbin, saying the Illinois Democrat "blew" negotiations on the program. The president seemed miffed that Durbin confirmed reports that Trump used the term “s***thole” countries to refer to immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations.

Trump has denied making the remarks.

Sens. David Perdue (R-GA) and Tom Cotton (R-AR), who were in the meeting where the comment was reportedly said, initially remained quiet on the matter. On Friday, the two issued a joint statement saying they "do not recall" what the president said. But on Sunday, both confirmed they didn’t hear Trump say “s***hole.”

The two senators’ claims seem to conflict with another Republican senator who attended the meeting, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

On Monday, Graham said his "memory hasn’t evolved" on what was said. Graham was referencing a statement he issued last Friday that seemed to confirm the report that Trump said “s***hole”.

"Following comments by the president, I said my piece directly to him yesterday," Graham said.

As NBC noted, "The White House rejected a proposal by Graham and Durbin, along with other Republican and Democratic senators, that would have put young undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship while providing $2.8 billion for border security, including $1.6 billion for a wall."

Meanwhile, Sens. Cotton and Perdue had joined President Trump this past August in unveiling the RAISE Act, a merit-based immigration system.

What do you think?

Do you support a DACA deal? Or are you glad Trump rejected Graham and Durbin’s proposal? Would you like to see something more like the RAISE Act? Do you join Trump in blaming the Democrats for killing DACA? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

— Josh Herman

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(Photo Credit: brazzo / iStock)