White House Unveils Popular Immigration Reform Demands in Exchange for DACA

President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the White House. (Photo: Reuters)

The White House on Sunday unveiled President Donald Trump’s demands for immigration reform in exchange for extending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. In early September, the Trump Administration announced it would rescind DACA and give Congress 6 months to hatch out a deal.

It includes popular proposals and key campaign promises such as further crackdowns on “sanctuary cities” that protect illegal immigrants, reducing the number of refugees and the number of unaccompanied immigrants who come to the U.S. illegally as children.

The President is also seeking an additional 10,000 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.

“For decades the American people rightly have pleaded with their government for a lawful system of immigration. They have asked for secure borders and an immigration system that serves the national interest,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. “Unfortunately, over the last several decades respect for the rule of law has broken down and immigration enforcement has been sacrificed for the sake of political expediency.”

“This has made us less secure and it cannot stand.”

However, Democrats signaled the White House’s popularly supported proposals aren’t acceptable to them, once again indicating an amnesty without serious border security is the only path forward.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement the proposal “goes so far beyond what is reasonable” and “fails to represent any attempt at compromise.” In mid-September, the two leaders claimed to have reached a deal on DACA in exchange for nothing, a claim the White House immediately refuted.

“The Administration can’t be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans,” they wrote. “If the President was serious about protecting the Dreamers, his staff has not made a good faith effort to do so.”

To be clear, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are already cracking down on sanctuary cities and increasing deportation raids, the Trump Administration has not targeted so-called “Dreamers.” Americans are overwhelmingly in favor of these crackdowns, decreasing even legal immigration and have long-demanded border security before amnesty.

The People’s Pundit Daily Big Data Poll (PPD Poll) has repeatedly found majority support for restricting refugee flows.

Despite strong opposition from the public, Mr. Obama moved forward with DACA in 2012 and, in 2014, expanded it with Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). On multiple occasions, the U.S. Congress rejected similiar proposals, prompting Mr. Obama to do what he himself had said more than 20 times he did not have the authority to do.

DAPA, which was struck down by the Fifth Circuit and that decision was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court, was rescinded almost immediately after President Trump took office. DACA would not have held up to constitutional scrutiny, either.

Attorney General Sessions said the President’s proposals were “reasonable” but, more importantly, will work.

“Now President Trump has put forth a series of proposals that will restore the rule of law to our immigration system, prioritize America’s safety and security, and end the lawlessness,” he added. “These are reasonable proposals that will build on the early success of President Trump’s leadership. This plan will work. If followed it will produce an immigration system with integrity and one in which we can take pride.”

“Perhaps the best result will be that unlawful attempts to enter will continue their dramatic decline.

According to CBP report, illegal border crossings were down 40% after President Trump’s first month in office. As of September 1, CBP reported a 22% increase in apprehensions and inadmissible persons at ports of entry along the Southwest Border in August.

“I applaud President Trump and urge Congress to listen to the American people and swiftly pass these commonsense proposals into law. The Department of Justice stands ready to continue making our neighborhoods and communities safe and secure again.”