Sen. Flake remains positive for upcoming vote on immigration reform
Feb 12, 2018, 3:23 PM
PHOENIX – With the Senate preparing to gather for debate and to vote on immigration reform, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is positive that a resolution could be met.
In an interview on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Flake said that the Senate could “get something done this week” regarding an immigration reform bill that would coincide with President Donald Trump’s framework surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
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“We’re going to have something in the Senate that we haven’t had in a while,” Flake said. “It’s a real debate on an issue where we really don’t know what the outcome is going to be.”
In September, Trump announced that the administration would end the program that was created during the Obama administration. However, U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup blocked his decision in January, saying the program must remain in place while litigation over the decision unfolds.
Shortly after Alsup’s ruling, Trump reached a bipartisan agreement with congressional leaders to negotiate an immigration reform bill.
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As part of the framework, a pathway to citizenship would be offered for those who had already been covered by DACA, as well as those who qualify for the program.
As part of the compromise, Trump said that he wanted $25 billion in funding for the border wall project as well as added security.
Flake said Sunday that the framework provided by Trump was “helpful,” and said that it does need some changes, however, regarding the decline of legal immigration and the workforce for the economy.
Even so, Flake believes that the Senate could come to a resolution that addresses the concern of all involved
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“I do think this week is something we haven’t seen before and I am looking forward to it,” he said.
“If we can get something with support of 65 to 70 senators or maybe more, it’s a going to be a good, broad bill that will address, I believe, the concerns that the president has outlined but also take into account the things that we need for our economy going forward.”
