The raging debate continues on Senate floor as to what to do with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients as the end of their protection in the United States is running out.
- President Donald Trump wants path to citizenship, border wall
- Senate agreed to spend week on how to tackle DACA
DACA has been a political firestorm when it was started in 2012. The program allowed certain people, called "Dreamers," who came to the U.S. illegally as minors to be protected from immediate deportation.
President Donald Trump has made his terms clear, a path to citizenship for Dreamers as long as he gets funding for the border wall.
The Senate has agreed to spend this week debating how to tackle these demands. Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio seems on board with the president's demands.
Deal on permanent solution for those on or eligible for DACA within reach but only if paired with meaningful enforcement & border security
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 12, 2018
Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson took the Senate floor on Monday, urging Congress to make sure the path to citizenship for Dreamers becomes law.
It is something Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for this week.
"It won't be easy, but we're all going to try because of the gravity of the issues at stake. And because we know that this week will be a test of whether the Senate can steer the ship of State through the stormiest of waters," the Democrat said.
A Republican bill already introduced cuts to family-based migration and ends the diversity lottery program while enhancing federal authority power. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says it should make both sides happy.
"The Secure and Succeed Act is fair, addresses both sides' most pressing concerns conforming to the conditions the president has put forward," the Republican leader said, "It offers a compassionate resolution for one point eight million illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children."
Trump weighed in on the debate by tweeting,
Negotiations on DACA have begun. Republicans want to make a deal and Democrats say they want to make a deal. Wouldn’t it be great if we could finally, after so many years, solve the DACA puzzle. This will be our last chance, there will never be another opportunity! March 5th.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2018