Trump and Republicans face 'a defining moment' on immigration

[DonViejo]

By Robert Costa and Philip Rucker September 5 at 10:30 PM

President Trump is hurtling toward a crossroads on immigration — his signature campaign issue and a key source of his law-and-order reputation — where each path before him comes with significant political risks.

Trump has temporarily placed the fates of roughly 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children in the hands of Congress, buying himself time and shunting responsibility.

Should Congress act, the president will have to choose whether to sign on to a legislative solution granting the “dreamers” legal status — or to let the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, expire, which would impede the ability of beneficiaries to find work and leave them vulnerable to deportation.

The choice cuts to the core of his presidency and could have long-term ramifications for the Republican Party.

“From a Republican Party point of view, this is a defining moment,” Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), co-author of a bipartisan dreamers bill, told reporters Tuesday. As if addressing Trump, Graham added, “You have a chance to show the nation, as the president of all of us, where your heart’s at.”

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-and-republicans-face-a-defining-moment-on-immigration/2017/09/05/33256a7c-9254-11e7-aace-04b862b2b3f3_story.html

[MineralMan]

1. This issue could be a pivotal one in Congress

The so-called "base" of the Republican Party is anti-immigration in nature. That means that Democrats would be the main source of votes to retain DACA. There are probably enough Republicans in both the House and Senate to pass a bill to continue DACA, with the Democratic Caucus supplying their votes for it.

However, I suspect there will be heavy pressure from the right against the idea. Many Republicans on the right will see DACA as a foot in the door in the immigration issue and it may be difficult to get enough of them to have the guts to go against the phony "base" to pass it with enough votes to send Trump a message.

The other issue will be attempts to load any such bill with poison pills.

I foresee a huge fight and have no idea how this will turn out.

[world wide wally]

2. The bigger the fight over this is, the more extreme the racism will get.

Thanks again, fucking trump. (I stopped capitalizing his name as a show of disrespect)

[dalton99a]

3. So many such 'defining' moments have come and gone