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If we move to a merit based immigration system, some of the DACA folks would be excellent candidates (healthy young adults, fluent in English with good education/skills, who pay taxes have no criminal record and use no welfare). They would be reasonable recruits to legalize, or flat out give green cards anyway. At least half of the DACA folks are NOT good candidates under a merit based system. We need to bar those with criminal records, have gang associations (including tattoos) or who are functionally illiterate. We would be wise to further bar those with weak English language skills or medical issues.

Good analysis Beau. I don't think everyone sees these distinctions as clearly. DACA is a slim subset of our illegal immigrants as you stated.

This meeting was fascinating from several aspects. One I already stated in a previous post (Trumps' incredible negotiation skills).

Another was how Trump sandbagged the Democrats. I don't think the Democrats (or perhaps the Republicans either) thought Trump would allow the Press to stay in the room for nearly an hour. The press was clearly grateful, and you can hear them at the end before they are asked to leave. They thanked Trump profusely for the access.

The American people now know the Democrats tactics to the letter (they want DACA amnesty now, and "promise" to deliver border security and the wall later). A fool's bargain, but Trump forced them to play their hand.

The last thing - did you all notice who was sitting at the table very close to the President? A junior Congresswoman - Martha McSally.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_McSally

For those of you who are unfamiliar, you should read her bio. I did not know her while I was on active duty, but I knew of her. She was the first female A-10 combat pilot, a USAFA grad, a Harvard grad, and a very impressive woman. However, I first heard of her when she sued the DoD because she refused to wear the Abaya while deployed to Saudi Arabia.

We were flabbergasted at her courage. A lowly USAF Major does not do such a thing. But she did. She stood up to not only the DoD and State Dept, but to the richest Muslim nation on the planet. And she won and made her point.

The fact that she was in that meeting, and spoke several times, tells me that the Republicans recognize her potential. I think she will be a Senator soon - when McCain leaves office, I believe she will run for his seat with the full endorsement of the Republican party.

McSally called out the Democrats in that meeting for holding the Dept of Defense funding hostage to the Democrats whims. She disputed that immigrants were not who needed Congress to act right now, but our men and women in uniform. She refuted the Democrats assertion that port and other security was not being addressed, saying at the meeting "Our bill does that."

Watch the Arizona Senate seat - I think it is hers when it comes available.

No one doubts McSalley’s courage, but she is policy wise McTurd Jr. Absolutely not.

Believe me from on the ground here in AZ: Sheriff Joe’s announcement was almost entirely the work of RINOs and Club for Growth. I’d been hearing this for weeks, that they were looking to push him in to dilute Kelli Ward’s chances. McSalley will have not better chance against Sinema than Ward, perhaps worse if Trumpers are disgusted.

I think that Sheriff Joe Arpaio may have been put up to running for that Senate seat as a spoiler, to divide the vote, or at least make for a more divisive and damaging primary.

I agree with you that Trump’s highlighting of McSally signals a level of endorsement.