Politics

McCain’s DACA Fix Is Likely Dead On Arrival

REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Robert Donachie Capitol Hill and Health Care Reporter
Font Size:

Republican Sen. John McCain is introducing a legislative fix for the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that will likely infuriate Republicans and the White House.

McCain, along with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, will announce a bill Monday that provides a pathway to citizenship for roughly 800,000 illegal immigrants, no funding for the president’s border wall (or other border technology) and requires a comprehensive study to determine what border security measures are needed.

“For months, I have been calling on my colleagues to complete a bipartisan budget agreement to lift the caps on defense spending and fully fund the military. While reaching a deal cannot come soon enough for America’s service members, the current political reality demands bipartisan cooperation to address the impending expiration of the DACA program and secure the southern border,” McCain said in a statement.

The White House is asking for roughly $25 billion for the construction of a border wall along some 700 miles of the southern U.S.-Mexico border. Border wall funding is one of the president’s primary demands of any immigration bill and he has the backing of some of the hardline immigration hawks in the House and Senate.

The bill is also expected to go well beyond the White House’s proposal that provides 1.8 million young illegal immigrants legal pathways to citizenship. McCain and Coons’ bill would provide legal protections and a pathway to citizenship for young illegal immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since Dec. 31, 2013.

House and Senate Republicans are willing to grant legal protections for the 620,000-800,000 Dreamers, but the crux of the immigration debate is what happens with chain migration. Republican lawmakers do not want to extend legal status or a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers extended family members.

Arguably the only silver lining for Republicans is that McCain is offering an annual $110 million grant for five years to help improve coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement officials.

In order to improve the system, McCain and Coons are asking the Department of Homeland Security to figure out a way to increase border security awareness and border control by 2020. Additionally, the senators are asking the State Department to devise a three-year strategy to address the root causes of immigration from Central American countries.

President Donald Trump has given lawmakers until March 5 to figure out a legislative fix for Dreamers. Congress, in addition to figuring out an immigration strategy, has until midnight Friday to come to an agreement on a government funding bill.

Follow Robert Donachie on Twitter and Facebook

Send tips to robert@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Freedom of Speech Isn’t Free
The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.