The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)

‘NO MORE’ on DACA deal

President Trump threatens to end ‘dream act’ negotiatio­ns, NAFTA in Easter morning tweetstorm

- By Darlene Superville

PALM BEACH, FLA. » President Donald Trump declared Sunday that a deal to help “Dreamer” immigrants was “NO MORE” and threatened to pull out of a free trade agreement with Mexico unless it does more to stop people from crossing into the U.S. He claimed they’re coming to take advantage of protection­s granted certain immigrants.

“NO MORE DACA DEAL!” Trump tweeted one hour after he started the day by wishing his followers a “HAPPY EASTER!”

He said Mexico must “stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA. NEED WALL!” The U.S., Canada and Mexico are currently renegotiat­ing the North American Free Trade Agreement at Trump’s insistence.

“Mexico has got to help us at

the border,” Trump told reporters before he attended Easter services at an Episcopal church near his Palm Beach, Florida, home. “A lot of people are coming in because they want to take advantage of DACA.”

Former President Barack Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to protect from deportatio­n hundreds of thousands of immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally after they were brought here as children. Trump ended the program last year, but gave Congress six months to pass legislatio­n enshrining it. A deal has so far proved elusive.

It was not immediatel­y clear what Trump was referring to when he said people are coming to take advantage of the program, which granted the immigrants work permits.

The government is not issuing new permits, though existing ones can be renewed. Anyone who wanted to participat­e had a set period of time in which to sign up, and the program is no longer open to new entrants. Proposed DACA deals crafted by lawmakers also were not open to new participan­ts.

Trump did not explain his thinking when reporters asked as he entered the Church of Bethesda-by-theSea with his wife, Melania, and daughter Tiffany. The White House also did not immediatel­y respond to a request for clarificat­ion.

Trump, who addressed reporters briefly before entering the church, again blamed Democrats for the failure to reach an agreement on the “Dreamers.” Online: Check out the lottery Master’s blog HTTPS://KARLSLOTTE­RYBLOG.BLOGSPOT.COM

 ?? THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? President Trump stops to speak to members of the media with first lady Melania Trump at Episcopal Church of Bethesda-bythe-Sea.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Trump stops to speak to members of the media with first lady Melania Trump at Episcopal Church of Bethesda-bythe-Sea.
 ??  ?? President Donald Trump stops to talk to members of the media as he arrives for Easter services with his daughter Tiffany Trump, left, and first lady Melania Trump, right, at Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea.
President Donald Trump stops to talk to members of the media as he arrives for Easter services with his daughter Tiffany Trump, left, and first lady Melania Trump, right, at Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea.
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