The Hill
By Rafael Bernal
February 28, 2018
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) fired back Wednesday at President Trump’s claims that Democrats have abandoned “Dreamers” and the push for a fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
In a letter to Trump signed by the CHC’s leadership, the group accused Trump of rejecting all bipartisan agreements and backing partisan measures unlikely to become law.
“You have endorsed House and Senate partisan proposals that many Members from your own party oppose. Most recently, we saw the Senate hold a vote on the Grassley proposal, which closely resembled your immigration framework. The Grassley proposal garnered the least support in the Senate: with 60 votes in opposition and only 39 in support,” read the letter.
Democrats, particularly those in the CHC, have grown increasingly frustrated with the GOP and White House handling of the immigration debate, as six different bipartisan agreements have been reached and scuttled.
“As you call on Democrats to provide relief to Dreamers, it is important to note that you have rejected at least six efforts by Democrats to work with Republican colleagues to reach an agreement on DACA,” reads the letter.
“It is clear that the White House and Republicans are prolonging this avoidable crisis,” it adds.
Trump rescinded DACA with a six-month delay in September, setting a March deadline for Congress to replace the Obama-era program with permanent legislation.
The cancellation complicated the legal status of nearly 700,000 so-called Dreamers — immigrants who arrived in the United States as minors — and set off a flurry of legislative proposals and cross-aisle talks to find a permanent solution.
But Trump hardened his negotiating position as time wore on, batting down bipartisan agreements that paired a path to citizenship for DACA recipients with border security investments.
The White House instead pushed for a four-pillar strategy that also includes changes to the diversity visa lottery program and to family-based migration sponsorships that have been at the center of U.S. immigration policy for decades.
That approach met resistance from moderate Republicans, who saw it as too expansive, and immigration hawks, who oppose any form of amnesty for immigrants in the country illegally.
Among most Democrats, the proposal was considered a nonstarter.
“You have called on Congress to act to address this issue. However, you have thwarted every bipartisan, narrow agreement that seeks to provide relief to Dreamers and instead have attempted to force a deeply unpopular, anti-immigrant agenda through Congress,” reads the letter.
Trump’s March 5 deadline has been rendered mostly insignificant as a court injunction has blocked his order ending DACA, allowing existing beneficiaries to renew their permits every two years.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear the Trump administration’s challenge to injunction meaning the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will continue to review the case.
Still, neither Republicans nor Democrats have abandoned the deadline.
“As your March 5th deadline rapidly approaches and more DACA recipients fall out of status, we strongly urge you to come to the table and work on a narrow solution that protects Dreamers immediately,” reads the CHC letter.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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