Trump and top Democrats discuss deal on Daca over Chinese meal

US president Donald Trump and leaders of the Democratic minority in congress inched closer to a deal on legislation that would protect more than 790,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US as children.

“We’re working on a plan for Daca” and are “fairly close” to a deal, Mr Trump said.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was put in place in 2012 by Barack Obama to protect undocumented minors and will expire in March if congress and the White House do not agree on a replacement.

But after a dinner with Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, a bipartisan agreement that involves extra border security measures requested by Mr Trump is in reach.

If enacted into law, it would be the most significant piece of legislation since he came to office.

“We had a very productive meeting at the White House with the president. We agreed to enshrine the protections of Daca into law quickly, and to work out a package of border security, excluding the wall, that’s acceptable to both sides,” the Democratic leaders said.

Mr Trump broke with his right-wing Republican base in accepting the principle of giving Daca recipients legal status.

A final deal would need a vote in congress.

“Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really?” Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.

According to the latest Pew research study, Daca has shielded nearly 790,000 young unauthorised immigrants from deportation.

A poll conducted by Politico and Morning Consult this week showed that “73 per cent of voters want legislation protecting “dreamers” [Daca recipients] from deportation”.

Still, Mr Trump’s move could put him in trouble with the base who voted for him because of a hawkish stance on immigration issues including ending Daca.

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon told CBS last week that Mr Trump’s shift on Daca could cost the Republicans the house of representatives majority next year.

But for Mr Trump, veering to work with Democrats has so far helped him in striking a deal on the debt ceiling and a possibly one on Daca. Maggie Haberman of The New York Times said Mr Trump’s dinner menu with the Democrats on Wednesday was Chinese food.

“Apparently intentional,” she tweeted because of common ground between Mr Trump and Mr Schumer on the issue of Chinese trade, and more deals to come.