Sen. Cornyn rules out DACA fix, setting up government shutdown fight

Republicans need Democratic votes in the Senate in order to pass the spending bill. Without a DACA fix, they may not get them.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) says there is “no way” that a must-pass spending bill will include a deal to protect immigrants brought to the country as children, something for which Democrats have been fighting, setting up the possibility of an imminent government shutdown.

The Senate GOP Whip on Monday specified to reporters that Congress’ short-term spending bill will not make permanent protections available for so-called unauthorized DREAMers, according to The Hill’s Alex Bolton. Cornyn said he would “be happy to” address DACA before the omnibus, but Congress has until midnight on December 8 to pass a spending bill or risk shutting down the government.

In early September, President Donald Trump rolled back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, an Obama era program granting temporary work authorization and deportation relief in two-year increments. Recipients whose DACA statuses expire before March 5, 2018 were told to renew their work authorization cards for one final two-year increment by early October. Many did, but recipients whose DACA statuses expire beginning on March 6, 2018 could be subject to deportation and job loss. After Trump rescinded the program, he called on Congress to provide a permanent fix for the DREAMers, giving lawmakers six months to find a solution.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell recently said it would be “ridiculous” to have a standoff fight with Democrats over the immigration issue and risk shutting down the government.

https://thinkprogress.org/cornyn-sen...-1a7fb892da3c/