Trump: Dreamers Protection Has To Come With Border Wall
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBSMiami) -- The House has unveiled an immigration bill one day after a lengthy meeting between lawmakers and the president.
The bill includes protections for so-called "Dreamers" but the president has said he will only sign a bill if it includes a border wall.
In the meantime, a federal judge has made a significant ruling on how to address those young immigrants while Congress continues to negotiate.
House Republicans introduced their version of an immigration bill to address the so-called Dreamers while also providing border security.
"The Securing America's Future Act is the starting point to correct the flaws in our immigration system," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA).
President Trump wants Congress to spend $18-billion dollars on a border wall.
He says approval of a wall must accompany protection for DACA recipients.
"I really believe they're going to come up with a solution to the DACA problem, which has been going on for a long time. Maybe beyond that, immigration as a whole but any solution has to include the wall because without the wall it all doesn't work," said President Trump.
DACA is an Obama-era program which ends March 5th. It allows people brought to the U.S. illegally as children to stay.
In September, President Trump ordered the program come to an end but a federal judge temporarily halted that decision Tuesday night lifting the fear of deportation for now.
"To the Dreamers in America, go to work. Go to class. It's a good day," said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
The president slammed the decision saying it shows the court system is unfair and broken. He believes finding a fix for DACA should be up to lawmakers, not federal judges.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer doesn't want to link DACA protections with a border wall.
Instead, he wants to include protections for Dreamers in a must-pass spending bill.
"A resolution to the DACA issue must be part of a global deal on the budget. We cannot wait," said Sen. Schumer.
Congress has until January 19th to pass a budget deal or the government will shut down.
Texas Senator John Cornyn, the second ranking member of Senate Republicans, says he'd be surprised if an immigration deal can be completed by then.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
