Originally Posted by jaylove16

Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, said any deal to protect Dreamers should not become a vehicle for enacting those kinds of proposals.

“We want the DREAM Act to pass. It’s clear that Republicans are trying to use Dreamers as bargaining chips to get as much of their agenda added to it, and it’s unfortunate,” he said, referring to a bipartisan bill that would create a path to citizenship for certain immigrants brought to the country as children.

Sharry said if Republicans insist on expanding the scope of the deal beyond the DREAM Act, activists would expect Democrats to win additional concessions.

“If there is an expansion of the Republican agenda, there will have to be an expansion of the Democratic agenda. We’ll be evaluating whether that balance is equitable and whether there’s parity,” he said.

Durbin on Wednesday said he is aware of the concerns of pro-immigrant advocates.

By giving away the store on a DACA package, Gutiérrez continued, Democratic leaders would have no cards to play if Congress ever returns to the issue in the form of a more comprehensive immigration reform package.

“If you give it up now, when you go back to negotiate comprehensive [reform] they’re going to say, ‘That’s off the table. You gave it up for the Dreamers,’ ” Gutiérrez said. “You cannot give up something today and expect it tomorrow.”

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) also suggested he’d oppose a DACA package that included the new restrictions on family migration and diversity visas.

“Let’s not get the DREAM Act saddled with toxic stuff,” he said.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3...on-immigration