White House Backs Citizenship for 1.8 Million Dreamers in Exchange for Immigration Restrictions

What’s the story?

President Donald Trump said he will support a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million young undocumented immigrants in exchange for $25 billion for a border wall and a drastic reduction to family-based – or "chain" – migration.

Why does it matter?

The president said his proposal would offer a path to citizenship for the 700,000 undocumented immigrants covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The proposal would also cover those who meet DACA requirements but did not sign up before the program ended.

"These are good people, these are people that should be able to stay in this country," Trump said in an interview with CNBC. He added:

“We’re going to solve the DACA problem. But we also want to solve a tremendous problem on the southern border, which is crime.”

That solution includes $25 billion to build a border wall and ending family migration beyond spouses and minor children.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) rejected the proposal.

As we have been urging him to do for months, the President has finally put pen to paper to show us where he stands on immigration. Unfortunately, this plan flies in the face of what most Americans believe. 1/2

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 26, 2018

While @realDonaldTrump finally acknowledged that the Dreamers should be allowed to stay here and become citizens, he uses them as a tool to tear apart our legal immigration system and adopt the wish list that anti-immigration hardliners have advocated for for years. 2/2

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 26, 2018

As things stand, DACA is still in place until March. A judge recently ruled that the federal government had to allow recipients of DACA to re-apply for deportation protection, but on average, according to reports, 122 DACA recipients lose their status daily.

What do you think?

Do you support the White House immigration proposal? Or do you agree with Sen. Schumer that the plan "flies in the face of what most Americans believe"? Hit Take Action and tell your reps what you believe, then share your thoughts below.

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—Josh Herman

Related Reading

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• ICE has Detained or Deported Immigration Activists

• DACA Update Post Shutdown

• Judge Rules To Reinstate DACA While Lawmakers Negotiate On Camera

(Photo Credit: brazzo / iStock)