Democrats push back against an expected proposal that would fund a border wall.
This afternoon, President Donald Trump is expected to propose an deal that would exchange $5.7 billion in border wall funding for his support of the BRIDGE Act, which would extend protections to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and give temporary protective status for refugees. The proposal marks the latest attempt to end the partial government shutdown, which is entering its fifth week. But even before Trump has officially proposed the plan, it’s getting a rocky response, especially from Democrats.
Congressional aides told the New York Times that House Democrats haven’t been consulted on the plan and would only negotiate with Trump once the government is reopened.
Dear @realDonaldTrump: Thank you for your concessions. Democrats look forward to working with you on a comprehensive immigration bill that includes DACA. But we can’t do that in a shutdown. We will never allow a shutdown as a negotiating tactic. Need to reopen government first. https://t.co/eAV6byDXxB
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) 19 January 2019
Senior House D aide shrugs off Trump proposal
‘This is not a compromise as it includes the same wasteful, ineffective $5.7 billion wall demand that shut down the government in the first place.
This cannot pass the House or Senate.’
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) 19 January 2019
Others noted that under the current law, Dreamers who renew their DACA permits in nine months already get two more years of protection.
