WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Senate debate over immigration begins in full, President Trump is threatening to veto any resulting bill unless it advances the reforms outlined in the White House immigration framework.
Odds are slim that a bill encompassing the range of Trump’s demands would earn 60 votes in the Senate — and for good reason. For example, slashing legal immigration would shrink the American economy.
The White House’s hardline stance makes a solution for Dreamers unlikely to pass before the March 5 final deadline the president set when he rescinded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Without a solution before the deadline, thousands of Dreamers each week could lose the authorization work in the U.S. and would be subject to deportation.
“President Trump risks snatching defeat from the jaws of a historic victory,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.
“President Trump’s explicit rejection of finding a middle ground is counterproductive and deeply discouraging. Legislation that balances a permanent solution for Dreamers with ensuring a secure border is a win for the Republican-controlled White House and Congress, and for American workers. Obstructing such a win achieves nothing for Trump or the American public.”