Trump says is working on DACA issue, ‘fairly close’ to clinching deal
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was working to find a solution to the fate of 800,000 immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children, saying he was “fairly close” to clinching a deal.
“We’re working on a plan - subject to getting massive border controls,” Trump told reporters. “We’re working on a plan for DACA. People want to see that happen. You have 800,000 young people, brought here, no fault of their own.”
He added: “So we’re working on a plan, we’ll see how it works out. We’re going to get massive border security as part of that. And I think something can happen, we’ll see what happens, but something will happen.”
Trump’s remarks represented another shift in his position on the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, with allies and opponents unsure of his next step.
He had earlier this month ordered the shutting down of the programme, that prevented the deportation of undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, including close to 8,000 people of Indian descent.
However, he gave congress six months to legislate a solution to replace DACA. There is bipartisan support to finding a way to legalize the stay of Dreamers, as DACA beneficiaries are called.
Trump held discussions with the congressional Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer on Wednesday, after which the two said they had a deal to work on replacing DACA that did not include Trump’s promise of a wall along the border with Mexico.
Trump pushed back in a string of tweets on Thursday morning.
“No deal was made last night on DACA. Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent. Would be subject to vote.
“The WALL, which is already under construction in the form of new renovation of old and existing fences and walls, will continue to be built,” he posted.
However, he seemed to show support for the Dreamers in the very next tweets.
“Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really! They have been in our country for many years through no fault of their own brought in by parents at young age. Plus BIG border security,” he wrote.