The Senate sells out Dreamers in deal to end government shutdown
Democrats make compromise with GOP, but was it a deal with the devil?
Democrats make compromise with GOP, but was it a deal with the devil?
The U.S. senate has compromised on a measure to reopen the government after a three-day shutdown. In doing so, Senate Democrats temporarily gave up their fight for Dreamers.
On Monday afternoon, the Senate voted on the measure that will clear the way for the passage of a short-term spending package to keep the government running until early February.
Democrats cut a deal with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who agreed to pass a separate immigration bill that would protect Dreamers from being deported.
Dems reportedly held a 90-minute meeting before ultimately choosing to trust McConnell’s word that he would take up the measure in the near future if Democrats worked with Republicans in reopening the government.
“After several discussions, offers and counteroffers, the Republican leader and I have come to an arrangement. We will vote today to reopen the government to continue negotiating a global agreement,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
The short-term spending bill will continue to provide funding for the government through Feb. 8.
Political skepticism
Some moderate Democrats remain skeptical that McConnell and Senate Republicans will keep their word on coming up with a solution to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which President Trump repealed last September.
The repeal puts an estimated 800,000 young undocumented immigrants, who were brought to the U.S. as children, at risk of being deported.
According to The Hill, many Democrats are reportedly worried that the short-firm fix is not enough in their commitment to Dreamers.
Sen. Kamala Harris expressed her skepticism that McConnell made any real commitment to protect Dreamers.
“Listen, I’m disappointed with a conversation that suggests a false choice, you either fund the government or you take care of these DACA kids,” Harris said. “We can do both.”
“I don’t believe he made any commitment whatsoever and I think it would be foolhardy to believe he made a commitment,” she added.
The party was resolute in not compromising on passing a immigration bill, arguing that Republicans, who hold a Congress majority, would have to answer for the fate of Dreamers in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections.
Now it looks like everyone will have to answer if a bill is not passed in the near future.
Battle goes to the House
According to CNN, Democrats remain weary that House Republicans will follow McConnell’s lead to take up DACA.
For that reason, House Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is expected to vote nay in support of the short-term spending package passed in the senate.
