WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a White House meeting with some 25 members of Congress from both parties, President Trump urged lawmakers to reach a deal on Dreamers and border security, and committed to signing off on any agreement that incorporates both.
“You folks are going to have to come up with a solution, and if you do, I’m going to sign that solution,” Trump said, calling on lawmakers to focus on reaching a deal for Dreamers and agree to tackle more comprehensive reform once a fix for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has been implemented.
The meeting follows the release of a bipartisan framework authored by Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Pete Aguilar (D-California) that includes border security provisions and a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers. Both signal continued progress and collaboration on a DACA deal, which is increasingly urgent as a March 5 deadline for implementation draws closer.
Support for Dreamers is strong on both sides of the aisle and across the country. In a letter to members of Congress Wednesday, three former Secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called on lawmakers to pass a solution for Dreamers by mid-January. They join a large and diverse group of Americans voicing support for Dreamers that includes House Republicans and prominent conservatives as well as law enforcement, evangelicals, universities and business leaders.
“The president has called on both parties to work together, giving them no excuse to leave Dreamers in the lurch any longer,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “Our lawmakers should follow the President’s leadership and get this done.”