US President Donald Trump held on firm to his demands for a deal for the so-called Dreamers in exchange for beefing up border security as bipartisan senators were “drafting the language and expecting to introduce” a new measure intended to break a Senate deadlock on immigration.
As Democrats need to win the protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants dubbed “Dreamers” (who entered the United States illegally as children), President Trump demands a broader immigration policy overhaul that also funds a US-Mexican border wall, important to his voting base, whilst at the same time putting future restrictions on legal immigration.
President Trump released a statement: "I am asking all senators, in both parties, to support the Grassley bill and to oppose any legislation that fails to fulfill these four pillars that include opposing any short-term 'Band-Aid' approach."
With that, he refers to the legislation offered by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley which embraces the US’s White House immigration ideas.
Though Republicans control the Senate 51-49, in order for immigration legislation to pass it would need 60 votes, thus meaning at least some Democratic support is required.
The leader of the Senate Democratic party, Mr. Chuck Schumer argued in response that “President Trump is trying to force his hard-line immigration agenda down the throats of the American people,” whilst calling the Grassley bill “extreme.”
According to insiders, bipartisan negotiations were “ongoing and perhaps very close to a solution.”
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who controls the Senate’s agenda, will allow an open debate on the issue later this week: “I promised I would clear the way to debate these matters this week, and I have.”
Source:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/14/trump-urges-senate-to-pass-senator-grassleys-immigration-bill.html
