So let's
make the investments we all know are essential in both our military and
in our middle class. Even on the most challenging issue we face, the fate of the Dreamers,
there appears to be a path forward. Yesterday's immigration meeting at
the White House was encouraging for two reasons. First, practically
everyone at the table--including some of the most conservative voices
on immigration, like the Senator from Iowa--agreed that we must resolve
the future of Dreamers by passing DACA protections into law. That is a
very positive development. Second, President Trump appeared to endorse a narrow deal to protect
the Dreamers, leaving the thornier issues for a later debate on
comprehensive immigration reform--a debate that, personally, I would
welcome, the sooner the better. But first, we have to do this narrow deal. President Trump also
backed off his demand that a DACA deal include an expensive and
ineffective border wall across the entire length of the southern
border. Of course, the devil is in the details. We Democrats have
repeated time and again that we are ready, willing, and eager to
support an effective, practical border security measure in a deal that
enshrines DACA into law. The President yesterday seemed to agree with
that. We agree with that. For these reasons, the meeting was
encouraging. Last night, a Federal judge ruled against the Trump administration's
handling of the termination of the DACA Program. Let me be very clear. The ruling last night in no way diminishes the urgency of resolving the
DACA issue. On this we agree with the White House, which says the
ruling doesn't do anything to reduce Congress's obligation to address
this problem now. A court case, of course, is no guarantee of lasting
security. A higher court can quickly overturn it. Unsurprisingly, the
Department of Justice responded to the ruling last night by saying that
it ``will continue to vigorously defend [this] position, and looks
forward to vindicating its position in further legislation.'' So the
fact remains that the only way to guarantee the legal status for
Dreamers is to pass DACA protections into law and to do it now. For
that reason, a resolution to the DACA issue must be part of a global
deal on the budget. We cannot tolerate delay. Delay is a tactic employed by those who do
not wish to see a deal. Let me just say, promises that maybe in the
future we will do it--particularly on immigration--have vanished by the
wayside. Unless DACA is on a must-pass deal--a must-pass bill--in terms of a
global agreement, people are rightfully skeptical that it will ever
happen. Somehow, somewhere, someone will say: I can't do it. Let's not forget that the House has been a graveyard even for
immigration proposals that have had bipartisan consensus here in the
Senate. So it must be on a must-pass bill. Otherwise, we are not going
to get it.
Keywords matched
immigration border wall border security DACA