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[/media-credit]Democrats and Republicans in Washington remain distant on a deal that would continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).
Following the government shutdown, from Jan. 20 to 22, the top priority in Congress has been to make a compromise on DACA. While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has a promise from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to debate, both sides are distant after the White House’s rejection of a bipartisan deal headed by R-S.C. Senator Lindsey Graham, and D.Il Senator Dick Durbin.
After the initial announcement from the Trump administration, Quinnipiac Executive Vice President and Provost Mark Thompson sent out a memo signalling the University’s official policy. The memo provided information where undocumented or DACA students can get help.
“Quinnipiac University has been committed to diversity and inclusion, and DACA students are an integral part of our community,” the memo stated. “The university does not share private information about our students in accordance with the Family Educational and Rights of Privacy Act (FERPA). While the university is bound to comply with state and federal laws, enforcement of federal immigration policy primarily rests with federal authorities.”
After rejecting the bipartisan deal, the White House released their own outline for an immigration compromise on Thursday, Feb. 1. The deal would give all Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who were brought into the country by their parents, a path to full citizenship. While specifics have yet to be released, the outline has been said to be 10 to 12 years in the country and requirements for work, education and good morals.
In return, the White House has asked for $25 billion for a border wall, an end to family reunification, also known as chain migration, and an end to the diversity visa lottery. In addition, the White House requested additional funds to add new immigration enforcement officers, judges and prosecutors with the goal of speeding up the deportation processes.
It has been a long goal of Democrats to give Dreamers a way to stay in the country and have a path to citizenship. On June 15, 2012, President Barack Obama established the policy through an executive order, giving nearly 800,000 Dreamers renewable two-year deferred action on deportation as well as granting them work visas.
Despite this concession from Republicans, Democrats have come out against this plan. Senator Schumer tweeted out his disagreement for the plan stating, “While (President Donald Trump) finally acknowledged that the Dreamers should be allowed to stay here and become citizens, he uses them as a tool to tear apart our legal immigration system and adopt the wish list that anti-immigration hardliners have advocated for for years.”
Republicans, especially the immigration hard-liners, have displayed pleasure with the plan. “The president’s framework is generous and humane, while also being responsible,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ar. said.
Both House Majority Leader Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have also praised the President’s plan, saying that a final deal is close and will likely use many points the President put forward.
On Tuesday, Feb. 6 John Kelly, Trump’s Chief of Staff, stated that it is not likely that President Trump will extend the March 5 deadline that he gave Congress to act on the DACA policy.
“Mr. Obama establised the program, and it was considered to be unconstitutional, not based on any law,” he told reporters on Tuesday after meeting with McConnell. “The extension I’m not so sure the President, this President has the authority to extend it.”
