Three Republican senators floated a fallback plan Thursday to protect hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants facing deportation in exchange for $25 billion in border security.
Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune
John Randolph ThuneTrump's controversial Fed nominee stalled after Senate setback Shelton's Fed nomination on knife's edge amid coronavirus-fueled absences We need a (common) 'sense of the Senate' resolution on transition planning MORE (S.D.), Sen. Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanGOP senator: Trump shouldn't fire top cybersecurity official Portman enrolls in phase 3 trial for COVID-19 vaccine GOP shows limited appetite for pursuing Biden probes MORE (R-Ohio) and Sen. Jerry Moran
Gerald (Jerry) MoranIt's time for Congress to act: Save jobs and stabilize the aerospace industry Lobbying world This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans MORE (R-Kan.) floated a measure that would extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program indefinitely in exchange for $25 billion in border security funding.
It would require DACA recipients to reapply to the program every two years and cap expenditures for border security infrastructure at $5 billion per year.
President Trump
Donald John Trump46 percent of voters say Trump should concede immediately: poll Michigan county reverses course, votes unanimously to certify election results GOP senator: Trump shouldn't fire top cybersecurity official MORE rescinded DACA in September and gave Congress a March 5 deadline for replacing it. President Obama established the program in 2012 with an executive order, drawing criticism from Republicans, who said he exceeded his constitutional authority.
Thune hailed the backstop plan to protect "Dreamers" as “commonsense legislation” that would extend permanent protection and take a “meaningful step toward enhancing border security.”
Portman called it “a sensible and fair solution” that would “codify the protections for the DACA population while also putting in place stronger border security measures consistent with the president’s proposal.”
The bill would also require the secretary of Homeland Security to make an annual report to the Senate and House Homeland Security panels about the status of fence construction along the U.S.-Mexico border and the estimated number of unlawful crossings.
The trio of Republican senators unveiled their backup plan after the Senate defeated three proposals to protect Dreamers.
An amendment favored by Trump that would have created a path to citizenship for 1.8 million immigrants who entered the country illegally as children, allocated $25 billion for border security, limited the weight of family relationships in granting green cards and overhauled the diversity visa lottery program failed by a lopsided vote of 39 to 60.
A narrower bill backed by centrist Sens. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsThe magnificent moderation of Susan Collins The data reveals foreign influence and pollsters are 2020's biggest losers Trump's controversial Fed nominee stalled after Senate setback MORE (R-Maine), Angus King
Angus KingTop cybersecurity official ousted by Trump Republicans start turning the page on Trump era Biden considering King for director of national intelligence: report MORE (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds
Mike RoundsGOP senators congratulate Harris on Senate floor We need a (common) 'sense of the Senate' resolution on transition planning McConnell treads cautiously in Trump's post-election fight MORE (R-S.D.), which would have created a path to citizenship for Dreamers in exchange for $25 billion in border funds, fell six votes short of the 60-vote hurdle needed to advance.
It is unclear when, or if, the Senate will return to immigration legislation. The chamber is out of session next week for the Presidents Day recess.
