Trump criticizes judge on immigration
Comments seen as reaction against judicial limitations on his powers
Washington — President Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at a federal judge who’s temporarily blocked him from ending protections for nearly 800,000 young immigrants. The Senate’s top Democrat said that despite the ruling, lawmakers and the White House must drive toward a bipartisan deal that would permanently shield them from deportation.
The remarks by Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., came a day after the president and top lawmakers used a White House meeting to agree to pursue a pact that would protect those immigrants and bolster border security.
Talks seemed likely to continue Wednesday, and Trump’s comments seemed more a reaction against judicial limitations on his powers than a desire to permanently end the immigrants’ protections.
Trump lobbed his salvo after U.S. District Judge William Alsup late Tuesday granted a request by California and other plaintiffs to prevent Trump from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program while their lawsuits play out in court. That program, started by former President Barack Obama, shields immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children and are living here illegally. Trump has terminated it but given lawmakers until March 5 to craft legislation reviving its protections.
“It just shows everyone how broken and unfair” the court system is, Trump tweeted. He said opponents of his policies “almost always” win in the federal court district where that judge serves.
Schumer said the judge’s ruling “is no guarantee of lasting security” because the judge could be overruled later by a higher court.
“The ruling last night in no way diminishes the urgency” for a bipartisan bill protecting the so-called Dreamers, he said. “The iron is hot. We should strike now” and reach a deal, he said.
To add pressure on Republicans, Schumer also said he wanted an immigration deal to be attached to mustpass budget legislation Congress will soon consider. Federal agencies will shut down unless lawmakers pass a bill financing them by Jan. 19, and legislators are also trying to reach agreement on a budget deal financing government for the rest of this year.
An immigration package “must be part of a global deal on the budget,” Schumer said.
Republicans controlling Congress have resisted combining immigration and the budget into one bill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters Tuesday that immigration will be handled “separately from the spending negotiation” on “a bill the president is willing to sign.”
No. 2 Senate GOP leader John Cornyn of Texas told reporters Wednesday he’d be “surprised” if an immigration deal can be completed by the Jan. 19 deadline.