Senators Say They’re Closing In on a DACA and Border Deal

• December 20 2017
• Laura Litvan

Republican and Democratic senators working on an immigration deal say they are closing in on an agreement combining a border-security package with deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants.

Republican and Democratic senators working on an immigration deal say they are closing in on an agreement combining a border-security package with deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants, though a final resolution isn’t likely to come until January.

The progress may remove one hurdle for passage of a temporary extension of government funding to avert a shutdown on Saturday. Democrats had been insisting on including the deportation protections for the group known as “dreamers” in the must-pass spending resolution, but party leaders in the Senate won’t demand unified opposition to the funding measure if the immigration provisions aren’t included.

“We make progress every day,” said Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, who is participating in the talks, adding that “ there are too many issues that are outstanding” to finish work before lawmakers leave Washington for a holiday recess.

Seven senators participating in the negotiations met Tuesday with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials, Lankford said. Kelly walked through changes that the administration is already making at the U.S.-Mexico border and what further resources it says are needed, part of an effort to help complete that part of the legislation.

Democrats’ Stance

A Democratic aide familiar with the talks said that Democrats are pushing Republicans to make final decisions and can’t say at this point when an accord will be reached. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal party deliberations, also said that while Democrats have been demanding that the deportation protections be included in a stopgap measure to keep the government open, Democratic leaders will let members vote their own way if the spending bill is drafted without those provisions.

The protections for the young immigrants covered by President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, have been up in the air throughout the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency. Trump in September agreed with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California to move a border security bill by year’s end, and pair it with protections for the immigrants. He later backed away from it.

The bipartisan talks are led by Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democratic leader, and Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican. They will continue on Wednesday.

Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who is part of the discussions, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has told him he’s supportive of moving their immigration measure through the chamber, so long as it can draw broad support from Republicans who will control the Senate with a slim 51-seat majority next year.

“I think we can come up with something that will have significant Republican support if we do it right,” Tillis said.

‘Sanctuary Cities’

Tillis said participants are continuing to consider some ideas Republicans are pushing, including sanctions for “sanctuary cities” that limit cooperation with the federal government over enforcement of immigration laws.

Those are ideas that could draw Democratic opposition. But providing protection for some illegal immigrants also is likely to draw vocal opposition from conservative Republicans in the House, presenting a major challenge for passage of the legislation.

Graham said the group is discussing including the “Dream Act,” which would provide both deportation protections and a pathway to citizenship for 800,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. by their parents. Temporary deportation protections for those immigrants end in early March.