Politico
By Ted Hesson
December 06, 2017
Congress must pass a spending bill by midnight Friday to prevent a government shutdown. That’s two days from now. Last month, Democrats appeared ready to risk a shutdown if the package didn’t include language codifying DACA. “Here’s the bottom line — we feel very strongly that DACA must pass and pass by Dec. 31,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in early November. “We’re going to work very hard for it in the must-pass legislation that comes forward.”
Is that still Democrats’ bottom line? We should find out today when Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi meet with President Donald Trump. Conceivably they might opt for a reprieve instead: House Republicans have floated the possibility of a short-term “continuing resolution” to keep the government running until Dec. 22. Democratic leaders hasn’t yet taken a position on the two-week extension.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans introduced a DACA bill Tuesday. The 526-page measure, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), combines a fix for DACA enrollees with various security measures and changes to the legal immigration system. The bill would authorize “physical barriers” along the U.S.-Mexico border; curtail family-based immigration; target so-called “sanctuary” cities; and encourage the use of the E-Verify program, an online system that checks work authorization. (Employers who used it wouldn’t be held liable for hiring an undocumented worker). Grassley said on the Senate floor Tuesday that he hopes to see the bill become law in the new year.
But the bill’s enforcement provisions alone could be enough to keep Democrats from voting for it. They may also balk at the limited relief that the bill provides to DREAMers. It folds in the Bridge Act, S. 128 (115), which codifies the DACA program and offers a three-year provisional status but no pathway to a green card. Democrats favor the DREAM Act, S. 1615 (115), which would legalize more people and allow them eventually to become citizens.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
No comments:
Post a Comment