Flake says senators have reached bipartisan deal on DACA bill
Jan 11, 2018, 11:31 AM | Updated: 4:15 pm
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake’s office said Thursday that a bipartisan group of senators had reached a deal on a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals bill.
Joint statement on #DACA deal from bipartisan Senate working group comprised of @JeffFlake, @SenatorDurbin, @LindseyGrahamSC, @SenBennetCO, @SenCoryGardner & @SenatorMenendez pic.twitter.com/YaD1MMZyua
— Jason Samuels (@Jason_Samuels) January 11, 2018
However, at least two senators said the deal was either still being negotiated or had not seen a deal. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also disputed Flake’s claim.
“There has not been a deal reached yet,” she said during a press conference prior to Samuels’ tweet. “However, we still think we can get there and we’re very focused on trying to make sure that that happens.”
CNN reported that Trump disliked the legislation and told the senators to continue working.
Flake 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.
Flake had been working to get a DACA bill on the Senate floor by the end of the month.
President Donald Trump ended the DACA program, which protected thousands of immigrants brought to the United States illegally when they were children, in September.
When he announced the end of the program, he told Congress it had six months to come up with a solution to the problem. That deadline is in March.
There were signs that Trump would be willing to accept a new bill that would protect DACA-eligible people. He had previously called for Congress to act with “heart” when acting on the issue and, earlier this week, said it should be a “bill of love.”
The president had said he would insist on construction of a border security wall as part of an agreement. It was unknown if the agreed upon bill included such a stipulation.
Flake said earlier this week that Trump has recognized a full wall may not be feasible along some parts of the border and may be willing to use a fence instead.
