Dems under pressure to deliver for Dreamers

He wants a fix enacted this year, and most Senate Democrats, Durbin said, agree with him.

"They all feel as I do,” he said. “They want it done this year. And that's our goal so we'll keep working at it."

But some of the Republicans involved in those negotiations are much less optimistic that a deal can be enacted this year.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was part of a group of GOP senators –– led by Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) — who huddledTuesday night in search of a DACA agreement.

Tillis said the discussions will continue, but doubted the appetite of GOP leaders to move on the issue immediately.

"I think it's unrealistic for a couple of reasons,” he said. “Mechanically, it may be difficult to do, [and] we now hear that there is a very strong sentiment against putting this in the year-end bill on the House side .... and I think similarly on the Senate side."

Some Democrats have argued that delaying DACA until January would be worth the price if the Democrats were able to lock down some of their other priorities this month, since they would have similar — if not more — leverage ahead of next month’s omnibus debate.

But the immigration reformers say too much is at stake, both politically and practically, to delay any further. One group has been distributing buttons to lawmakers this week bearing the number 122, a reference to the estimated number of Dreamers who lose their legal protections each day that Congress fails to act.

"At a rate of 122 DACA recipients losing protections a day … kicking the can down the road any further does not maintain the status quo," said Tom Jawetz, a vice president of immigration policy at the Center for American Progress, which is distributing the buttons.

"I would not consider kicking the can down the road an acceptable result," he added.

Gutierrez also offered a political warning to fellow Democrats who want to delay action.

“For those who say we can wait, tell that to the thousands of Dreamers who will lose their work permit, who won’t be able to enter into a classroom, who won’t be able to enter into a hospital, who have to shutter their businesses,” Gutierrez said.

“Latinos are so used to hearing, ‘mañana,’ that that’s all they’re going to hear,” he added.

“They’re going to hear, ‘mañana.’

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/36...r-for-dreamers

We’re tired of discussions.

Discussions.

Wants.

Debates.

Hope.

Tough Talks.

Setbacks.

These are things that just keep pointing to another disappointment...cmonnnnn Dems, do not fail us, pleaseeeeee!!!

Republicans will do just that, give them everything BUT a DACA fix and Dems will be forced to bite because they don't really want to shutdown the government.

I try not be negative but. I still do not understand who has more leverage, Democrats or Republicans? I thought Democrats had more leverage but, seems like Republicans are getting what they want.

They're doing what they want because they know Dems aren't capable of shutting down the government. In this other CR they are trying to pass, they will give Dems CHIP funding and they'll probably take it.

Lurker here

Maybe they get CHIP with the second CR, but what happens in January? They'll simply vote to fund the government and completely screw us over?

I think eventually we will get some status, but unfortunately, I don’t believe it’ll be by years end.

We should have a section called "Rhetoric" so only actual news are posted here..

Schumer , Durbin, Hoyer, and Pelosi are all responsible for making this happen.

If anyone finds info on who are the 'some' Democrats who do not care about this happening and do not care that our community is targeted for deportation, post the info stat.

Not passing the Dream Act is unacceptable and we are at this point because of the careless and poor decisions by Democratic leadership. The reaction in the community is not going to be pretty; people are fed up. Attach it to the spending bill as you said you will do.