Just nine Republicans in Congress support protecting DREAMers without conditions

On Tuesday morning, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which shielded around 800,000 young undocumented immigrants from deportation. Defending the move as a legal decision, Sessions noted that the rollback would be delayed six-months — during which members of Congress could pass a more permanent fix.

While the White House has left the fate of hundreds of thousands of young people up to Congress, lawmakers seem unprepared to act.

Just nine Republicans in Congress currently support a clean legislative fix of DACA. Most Republicans are willing to supported continued protections for DREAMers only if it is paired with other legislative measures, such as a border wall. This would mean Congress would have to pass some form of broader immigration reform — a task they have failed to accomplish repeatedly over the last decade.

Here are the nine Republican members of Congress who support a DACA fix through legislative action:

“It should be evident from the fear and confusion surrounding #DACA that executive actions have a short-shelf life…and are a poor substitute for permanent, bipartisan legislation to fix our broken immigration system. The ball is back in Congress’ court where it belongs, and there are a lot of innocent kids counting on Congress to do its job. Congress must act immediately to pass permanent, stand-alone legislation to lawfully ensure that children who were brought here…by their parents, through no fault of their own, are able to stay and finish their education and continue to contribute to society.”

“Today, the administration announced it will phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Immigration policy must be set through legislation addressing the legal status of undocumented children. POTUS is giving Congress time to fulfill its responsibility and take long-term action on the uncertainty for undocumented children. Undocumented children were brought to America through no fault of their own. My legislation will provide a fair and rigorous path for undocumented children to earn legal status. The path to earn legal status would require them to be employed, pursue higher education, or serve in our military. This commonsense legislative fix can and should unite members of Congress. I’ll work closely with my colleagues on the path forward. It’s up to my Dem colleagues to decide on a permanent solution or make it a political wedge issue. I hope they choose bipartisanship.”

“Over the years, immigrant children have arrived in our country — brought by their parents who either crossed one of our borders or overstayed their visas. For most of these young people, the United States is the only country they have ever called home. These children have attended school with our own children, worship at our churches, and grow up seeking to serve in our military, pursue a degree in higher learning, or contribute to our workforce and economy. These are America’s children and they should not have to live in constant fear of being deported to their parents’ homeland, a place many of them have no connection to or memories of living in. The Administration’s decision reinforces what we have known for some time — Congress must take action to provide a fair and permanent solution for these young immigrants. The Recognizing America’s Children Act I introduced earlier this year would not only give peace of mind to hundreds of thousands across the country but also help grow our economy and create new jobs. It’s also just the right thing to do. I encourage the President to focus on deporting criminals, not enforcement that divides families. But more importantly, I urge all my Congressional colleagues who want to help these young people – all thoroughly vetted – to support responsible immigration policies like the RAC Act, and I call on Leadership to bring it to the Floor for a vote. To all Americans who have it in their hearts to do something for these innocent young people, call your representatives and Congressional leaders and tell them the time to do the right thing is now.”

“This decision by the administration to end DACA and shut down the dreams of young immigrants is heartbreaking, reckless and wrong. For too long, Dreamers have been living with fear and unable to plan for their futures. DACA was necessary to provide a migratory safe harbor and it is cruel to take away the opportunities to work and go to school currently afforded to them. I remain committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to find a permanent legislative solution that protects DREAMers so that our nation does not lose this treasure trove of young people who only truly know and love the United States as their home. I call on my Congressional colleagues to debate and vote on the DREAM Act that Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard and I have presented or on one of the many bills proposed, such as the RAC Act or BRIDGE Act, to help Dreamers achieve permanence and certainty.”

“I have introduced the #BRIDGEAct in Congress to protect #DACA recipients. When I return to D.C., I will file a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the #BRIDGEAct. #DACA participants grew up here, went to school here, and should be allowed to stay here. The time has come to take action.”

“Like many of my colleagues I agree that President Obama exceeded his Constitutional authority and disregarded existing law to implement his plan for undocumented immigrants. Today President Trump has called on Congress to act and rightfully so. To this end, I am cosponsoring legislation that would provide a workable, permanent legislative solution for those individuals who entered our country unlawfully as children with their undocumented parents. Over the coming weeks I intend to work closely with my colleagues and the Administration to pass meaningful immigration reforms that will secure our borders, strengthen employment verification and provide a workable path for ‘Dreamers’ with DACA status.”

“In light of the imminent deadline to phase out DACA, it’s more critical than ever for Congress to act & pass the #RACact.”

“If President Trump chooses to cancel the DACA program and give Congress six months to find a legislative solution, I will be supportive of such a position. I have always believed DACA was presidential overreach. However, I equally understand the plight of the Dream Act kids who — for all practical purposes — know no country other than America. If President Trump makes this decision we will work to find a legislative solution to their dilemma. I have introduced legislation to solve this problem along with Senator Durbin. I look forward to working with President Trump and my colleagues in Congress to find a fair solution to this difficult problem.”

“America is a nation of laws, and it is the sole responsibility of Congress to create and pass legislation. President Obama bypassed Congress when he originally created the program, but in so doing, he offered a pathway for these individuals to get right with the law. In 2015, I voted to support DACA because I believe these children, who only know America to be their home, deserve an opportunity to be here legally. With that said, Congress now has an opportunity to act on immigration reform and we have the support here to do it. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1468, the Recognizing America’s Children (RAC) Act, it is my hope that the House will consider this legislation, sponsored by my friend and colleague Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), so we can act on this important issue sooner rather than later. It’s critical that we act on a permanent, legislative solution that allows these immigrants, individuals who have come out of the shadows and contributed to our society and economy, to stay here legally.”

The deal I proposed about a year ago:

1. The people covered would be Dreamers, Anchor Baby parents, and five-year+ “full” taxpayers, with exceptions (felons, those ordered deported, those who arrived after 2008, etc.).

2. To retain the right to stay, an immigrant would have to:
A. apply within 12 months and pay a $500 application processing fee to the USCIS
B. agree in writing to make donations (to be non-dischargable by federal bankruptcy law) of 10% of their pre-tax income
(minimum $300/quarter) to the Social Security Trust Fund for 27 years, starting in 2020, and then pay by estimated tax due dates via the IRS
C. obtain high-quality [better than bronze, deductible <$2,000 or that of the person’s US employer plan] health insurance coverage, meeting applicable US legal requirements, without government subsidy, except via a small employer/small employers under general law, within 12 months
D. maintain (thereafter), except for involuntary gaps not exceeding three months in any twelve, high-quality health insurance coverage, meeting applicable US legal requirements, without government subsidy, while the PPACA is on the books
E. pay a mandatory $1000 quarterly eligibility maintenance (and personal deportation abeyance) fee to USCIS by estimated tax due dates until the Constitutional amendments are fully ratified
[3% goes to USCIS, of the remainder, the first $20 billion raised goes to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, all the rest into the Social Security Disability Trust Fund]
F. pay all standard and expedited USCIS immigration fees within 18 months
G. pay a $2,000 amnesty service charge within 24 months to USCIS, discounted $40 for each month prior to the 24th
H. pay in full all US income tax amounts past due, get privately audited at their expense and then pass an IRS audit, all within 36 months
I. pay starting in 2020, a $500 tax shortfall fee for each quarter prior to 2017 and after 2006 the immigrant has not proven foreign residency/age of under 18 or lacked US income tax quarterly withholding of at least $400,
at the rate of $500 a quarter on US estimated tax due dates, to the IRS
J. pay a one-time, $5,000, non-refundable fee to the USDOT, to drive a motor vehicle on a US highway, always prior to doing so

3. They would get:
a. for 90 days, plus three days for each state that has ratified all of the Constitutional amendments we want
I. no apprehension of persons simply for immigration control/border security purposes at least 100 miles from a coast or national border
or within two miles of any listed USCIS office at least ten miles from a coast or national border
II. no detention simply for immigration control/border security purposes longer than 10 minutes of any applicant with specified official ID whose picture and name is available on the USCIS applicant registry system
b. thereafter, provided the immigrant has been paying and doing what the amnesty act and other federal law requires
I. no detention of qualified/approved applicants simply for immigration control purposes longer than necessary to verify the person is qualified/approved and in good standing
II. no deportation of qualified/approved applicants

4. We would get Constitutional amendments that would:
A. cap income/property taxation
B. restrain the judicial branch
C. repeal the first sentence (the citizenship by birth in USA clause) of Amendment XIV and declare that:
Every child born in the USA after ratification shall be born with the citizenship of their mother.

No foreigner may be granted US citizenship unless the foreigner is over age 22 and has paid US federal income tax [in excess of the value of two ounces of gold] on personal US earnings in each of the prior four years.

No treaty may be entered into that would require US residency/naturalization/citizenship/welfare benefits to be granted.

specify that:

D. No bill liberalizing naturalization or increasing any federal fee or imposing new federal taxation may be passed by Congress, except by contemporary roll call votes showing approval by:
a. at least 70% of the representatives in the House of Representatives and
b. at least 80% of the senators in the Senate
E. There shall be no estate taxation, except for:
a. federal estate taxation, to be used within twelve months of receipt to (help) pay off the existing national debt or that refinanced
b. existing or reduced state estate taxation
F. There shall be no other federal wealth/property taxation other than that federal estate taxation
G. Federal benefits, welfare and educational, medical and custodial care aid may be paid only from:
I. the first 10% of incomes, personal or corporate, under federal basic income taxation
II. federal alcohol/tobacco/drug/fat/sweetener/telecom taxation
III. and to reasonably provide medical benefits/financial payments to US people of at least 65 years of age:
a. flat-rate compensation taxation, equally up to 10% each on employer/employee, up to $24,000/year in total per employee
b. self-employment taxation no more than that employer/employee taxation on an after federal tax basis
c. recipient medical insurance program premiums that may vary solely by age
d. Social Security trust funds
H. There shall be no new federal loans made to private entities or natural persons, except to partially or fully refinance existing federal loan amounts at equal or better terms for the borrowers and federal government
I. Except for the refinancings under (H), no new federal loan guarantees shall be made
J. The federal government shall not issue any new pension guarantee, except on pensions payable to its veterans with at least 180 days of foreign battlefield and ground-to-air missile-defended airspace service
K. Federal regulation of the amount of private sector employee compensation shall be limited to setting monetary minimum wages, with reasonable monetary variations as Congress may selectively allow
[no more buying the votes of political interest groups at employer expense]

and provide that:

L. The President shall have line item veto power after January 20, 2021

5. An immigrant would lose the right to stay:
a. for failing to apply and pay in a timely manner, with one 60-day grace period per $5,000 paid by the immigrant in amnesty act levies
[excludes standard income tax law payments, no grace period for USDOT fee]
b. for failing to timely obtain/maintain high-quality health coverage, except for involuntary gaps not exceeding three months in any twelve, while the PPACA is on the books
c. for taking a government health insurance subsidy after 2017, if not from small business employment under general law, and not returning it within 90 days of demand
d. after committing a felony

I’m sure that McStain will hop on that list if it is necessary to screw over Trump.

The key here is that Trump MUST tell Congress that he isn’t signing any straight amnesty deals for the DACA people - because right now, they are all illegals. However, with some compromise from the hard-liners of the “let them all in, now” crowd, amnesty for these folks can be permitted. That compromise MUST counter - hard - the natural inclination of people to see an amnesty, and to then assume that it’ll happen again and again. That, to me, involves 2 things: First, end birthright citizenship once and for all. This is easy - in the amnesty bill, Congress simply slips in a sentence saying words to the effect that, “under the terms of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, the U.S. government will have no jurisdiction over any person born within the US or its territories, unless at least one of the parents of that person was, at the time of that person’s birth, a citizen of the US or a legal permanent resident of the US.” Second, insert a section providing for the construction of a border wall along our southern border, and significant improvements to security along our northern border, and significant increases in immigration security at ports and airports.

Do those 2 things, and I’m OK with leaving the Dreamers alone. Oh, and they can become citizens if they apply like anyone else for permanent residence - AFTER getting a job, AND so long as they are not a public charge, or guilty of any felony, during the entire time that they are applying for permanent residence or citizenship.

Let’s see if the Dems, and the Dems masquerading as Republicans, are actually so compassionate toward the Dreamers. If they are, they’ll agree to this compromise. If not, they’ll obstruct and bloviate, and attempt to blame Trump for everything. Tens of millions of Americans are watching, CLOSELY.

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