STATE DELEGATION reacts to proposal; ‘generous and humane,’ Cotton says.
WASHINGTON — Members of the Arkansas congressional delegation Thursday said they welcome President Donald Trump’s leadership on immigration, maintaining that changes are needed to the existing system.
Arkansas United Community Coalition, an immigrant advocacy group, said the announcement provides some “long-overdue clarity.”
The organization was pleased that the framework includes a pathway to citizenship, although it expressed concerns about other portions of the immigration proposal.
The state’s two U.S. senators and four congressmen — all Republicans — have expressed sympathy for “Dreamers” — illegal aliens who grew up in the United States.
But they’ve rejected narrowly focused legislation on the topic, arguing that more comprehensive immigration legislation is needed.
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Dardanelle, a Trump ally who has pushed for tighter restrictions on legal immigration, portrayed the White House proposal as a big step forward.
“The president’s framework is generous and hu- mane, while also being responsible. It protects those eligible for DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals], who are here through no fault of their own. But it also will prevent us from ending up back here in five years by securing the border and putting an end to extended-family chain migration,” Cotton said in a written statement. “The president’s willingness to grandfather everyone in the current immigrant backlog also shows he’s serious about reaching a bipartisan solution.”
U.S. Sen. John Boozman of Rogers is also ready to tackle the issue, spokesman Patrick Creamer said.
“It’s encouraging to see the White House’s involvement,” he said. “We’re committed to working together to find a solution to border security problems and other outstanding immigration issues.”
The DACA program helps hundreds of thousands of young illegal aliens who were brought into the U.S. by their parents or who stayed here after their visas expired.
The Trump administration announced in September that it would be ending the program started in former President Barack Obama’s term, but Trump delayed the move for six months so that Congress would have time to act.
Since then, the issue has stalled.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack of Rogers suggested Thursday’s announcement will help get things moving.
“I am glad to see the White House take charge and lead from the front on this issue. I look forward to further conversations in the House about how we can continue to reform our broken immigration system.”
In an interview, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs said the White House’s involvement would “absolutely” be helpful.
Earlier this week, Westerman co-sponsored legislation that would address the issue, and he said there’s a desire to move forward.
By ending DACA, Trump helped move immigration to the forefront, Westerman said.
U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford of Jonesboro said changes are needed but “increased border security must come first and foremost.”
“Anything less would be encouraging illegal immigration without solving the root problem, our porous border,” Crawford said in a written statement. “I am pleased to see that the President’s initial framework seeks to address our border security problem and other harmful immigration policies while taking into consideration the circumstances of DACA designees.”
In a written statement, U.S. Rep. French Hill of Little Rock said the framework includes “strong border security measures” while also addressing the plight of DACA recipients. He said he would work with “colleagues and this administration on reaching a consensus that both sides of the aisle can agree on.”
Arkansas United Community Coalition reacted to the news with what it called “mixed emotions and caution.”
“We can not celebrate this announcement as a victory because there is still an uphill battle ahead in Congress,” the group said in a written statement. “And ultimately we will remain vigilant and await the details of what the White House sends to the Senate on Monday to ensure that no money goes to enhancing the deportation machinery of DREAMers and their families, and that DREAMers do not become second class citizens through this process or be forced to make impossible choices between their future or that of their families.”