Democrats blast Trump's 'hardline anti-immigrant' demand for Wall (tr)

Daily Mail ^ | Jan 06, 2018 | Reuters and Keith Griffith

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Months of bipartisan negotiations in the US Senate over the fate of young, unauthorized immigrants known as 'Dreamers' have turned angry, with the lead Democratic negotiator blasting President Donald Trump for making 'hardline anti-immigrant' demands.

Senator Dick Durbin, the number two Senate Democrat, on Friday called Trump's demand for $18billion in border wall funding 'outrageous' and threatened a government shutdown if Democrats' demands on 'Dreamers' aren't met.

The White House on Friday added the funding request to a list of prior conditions it sent to Congress in early October, including an end to chain migration policies and the diversity lottery, both of which Trump implicated in the wake of recent terror attacks on New York.

Durbin said in a statement that it was 'outrageous that the White House would undercut months of bipartisan efforts by again trying to put its entire wish-list of hardline anti-immigrant bills - plus an additional $18 billion in wall funding - on the backs of these young people.'

The Democratic whip added on Twitter: 'President Trump has said he may need a good government shutdown to get his wall. With this demand, he seems to be heading in that direction.'

Trump in September ordered that an Obama-era program that prevented young immigrants from being deported should end in six months. The program is known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

Saving DACA recipients from deportation is a high priority for Democrats, but Republican and Democratic lawmakers have struggled to reach a bipartisan deal.

Durbin said the latest White House move, coming as Congress also struggles to pass a bill by January 19 to fund the government through September, could push federal agencies closer to a shutdown.

[ShasheMac]

He’s going to shut down gay bars?