Democratic leaders are softening on their previously staunch stances that protections for Dreamers be included in 2018 budget negotiations, the Hill reported Monday.
Last month, Democratic lawmakers demanded support from Republicans to restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and White House Minority Leader Nanci Pelosi (D-Calif.) filibustered for eight hours on the subject. But now, fearful of yet another government shutdown, Democrats are signaling they won’t keep up the demand as they head into a spending bill vote next week.
The blame fell to Senate Democrats after a brief shutdown in January over DACA, and House leaders are pushing to drop controversial “riders” to make it easier to pass the spending bill and prevent a government shutdown when funding expires on March 23.
“I think that’s probably the best policy for us to do,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.), the Democratic whip. “It’s also politically the most feasible way to get an omnibus passed.”
But immigrants rights advocates, who want protections for the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, are rebuking the softened stance.
“We need a budget or spending measure that includes the Dream Act. Punto,” Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) said.
H/T the Hill