Impossible for many senators to imagine a Dreamers deal without McCain. His absence is hurting prospects, per senators in both parties

The Arizona Republican has been a driving force in past immigration debates, and there's no obvious replacement.

There’s a cantankerous, blunt-spoken voice conspicuously absent from the immigration debate roiling Congress these days.

Yes, the Senate is missing John McCain.

The Republican senator is still undergoing treatment for brain cancer in Arizona while Capitol Hill is engulfed in contentious talks over his signature issue. For members of both parties, it’s almost unthinkable that Congress could assemble a deal on border security and legalizing some undocumented immigrants without McCain: He was behind two previous reform efforts in 2007 and 2013. Both fell short, but those involved say McCain gets credit for pushing the initiatives as far as they got.

“Every time I talk to him he tells me I hope we can get DACA and comprehensive immigration reform done,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), referring to the attempt to enshrine the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program into law. He and McCain led the so-called Gang of Eight effort five years ago. “Members on both sides miss him dearly. “

“Sen. McCain has been such an important player in every immigration debate that I’ve ever had,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). “His absence has been deeply felt.”

McCain has been speaking with Schumer and Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on the topic, and has been staying as engaged as he can, given his condition. On Monday, he and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) released an immigration proposal billed as a compromise, though it is unlikely to break the logjam in a divided Republican Party if McCain is not in Washington to sell it. The White House has already rejected the proposal.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/...gration-389959