House Republican leaders have drafted the outline of an immigration agreement they hope will stave off an intra-party war over Dreamers, according to multiple lawmakers and aides.
These Republicans cautioned that there is no deal at this time. But news of a framework, which has not previously been reported, represents a significant development in the House GOP’s effort to reach a consensus on an issue that’s eluded the party for years.
Conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus and moderate GOP lawmakers are meeting in Speaker Paul Ryan’s office Friday afternoon to review the proposal and see if moderates’ push for a discharge petition forcing immigration votes can be defused.
The outline includes two options to address the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The first is a concept floated by House Freedom Caucus member Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) to create a new visa program that Dreamers and other classes of immigrants could apply for after earning “points.” That plan would end or curb the diversity visa lottery program that President Donald Trump wants to eliminate and then shift those visas to the new program.
Dreamers would eventually be able to apply for citizenship once they transition into the new visa system.
POLITICO was not able to verify the details of the second option in the proposal.
The GOP leadership plan would also end the ability of immigrants to sponsor married adult children and adult siblings. They would still be able to sponsor their minor children and parents.
The outline also includes Trump’s border wall between the United States and Mexico. The plan would include some sort of shut-off valve for the entire proposal should the $25 billion in wall money not be allocated in future years.
Trump announced he was rescinding DACA last year but the courts have upheld the Obama-era initiative.
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