The fight over DACA may soon be coming to a cable news update near you.
Recall President Trump gave Congress six months to fix the program legislatively before it would automatically end, which is in March of next year.
While Republicans are hoping to kick the can down the road and avoid an internal fight, Democrats are increasingly insisting on addressing the issue this year.
And some have even indicated that they won’t vote in favor of any government funding bill that does not address immigration.
What that ultimately may mean is the threat of a government shutdown — but by Democrats this time — over amnesty. Get your popcorn ready, folks.
President Trump may get his wall after all.
Here’s more from The Hill…
The fight over “Dreamers” is heating up as the legislative calendar winds down, setting the stage for a year-end clash that’s heightening the odds of a government shutdown.
Lawmakers headed into the long Thanksgiving recess in stark disagreement over how, and when, to provide legal cover for undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children — legislation both parties say they want after President Trump rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in September.
Behind Trump, GOP leaders are opposed to attaching any DACA provisions to legislation extending government funding, which expires Dec. 8. But Democratic leaders, pressured by their activist base and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, are insisting that the DACA protections be finalized before year’s end. Many Democrats are threatening to withhold support for an omnibus spending bill if the immigration language isn’t included.
With just 12 legislative days left on the calendar — and the Republicans laser-focused on enacting a tax overhaul before Christmas — GOP leaders have some tough decisions ahead. And the question of timing on DACA is becoming every bit as sticky as the substance of the bill.
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has repeatedly noted that Trump, in dismantling the Obama-era program, gave Congress until March 5 to come up with a legislative fix. With that in mind, the Speaker has suggested Republicans would be fine addressing the issue early next year.
