Hispanic lawmakers grilled Democratic leaders on Tuesday about the party’s strategy to protect so-called “Dreamers” — and walked away with tensions still running high and divisions deep.
With the next government funding deadline a little more than a week away, Democrats don’t have the appetite for another shutdown but they also don’t agree on what leverage they have to force Republicans into serious talks about a solution for Dreamers.
Very tense and stressful" was how Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.) described the meeting between the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Democratic leaders from both chambers. “A lot of us are very concerned about what is going to happen with Dreamers and what the pathway is to get them the protections that they deserve and need.”
The gathering was the first opportunity since the shutdown for House members to vent to Senate Democratic leaders about the direction of stalled negotiations.
She added that a recent Schumer remark to the Washington Post — he said Dreamers shouldn’t “occupy the whole stage” of policy issues — “doesn’t send the proper message” and “only adds to the tension.”
“I disagree with the way in which he made that statement,” Lujan Grisham added.
Other members also took issue with Schumer's comment but said it reflects similar things he’s said privately about the Dreamers not needing to be the primary focus of ongoing spending talks.
Schumer’s office declined to comment.
Around twenty lawmakers attended the meeting, which included Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the second-highest ranking Democrats in the House and Senate.
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