Sen. Jeff Flake: Democrats moving forward ‘in good faith’ on DACA deal

PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) defended his Democratic coworkers against online attacks from President Donald Trump over an impending deal for young immigrants.

In an interview with This Week ABC, Flake said the Democrats are still negotiating a deal to grant temporary protections to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients.

“I take big issue with the president on this. He is saying that the Democrats aren’t moving forward in good faith,” Flake said.

“I’ve been negotiating and working with the Democrats on immigration for 17 years and on this issue — DACA or the Dream Act for a number of years — the Democrats are negotiating in good faith. I think we’re trying to come foward on a compromise and you’ll see that this week.”

The junior senator from Arizona made his comments in response to a series of tweets from the president that attacked the Democrats on their lack of ability to come forward with a deal.

I don’t believe the Democrats really want to see a deal on DACA. They are all talk and no action. This is the time but, day by day, they are blowing the one great opportunity they have. Too bad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2018

DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018

Last week, Flake and a group of bipartisan lawmakers announced they had reached a deal on DACA, but it was quickly shot down by the White House.

The program, also known as DACA, was an Obama-era policy that granted temporary work permits to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced an end to DACA in September, calling it an an “unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch.”

However, U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup ruled earlier this month that the program must remain in place while litigation over Trump’s decision unfolds.

Flake, who had been working to get a bill on the Senate floor by the end of the month, was not optimistic that the bill will be signed by Jan. 19, when the government could shut down. Democrats had hoped to agree on an immigration plan by that deadline.

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