Trump Courts Democrats on DACA, Dreamers

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

President Trump continues to the break the partisan mold. The administration and Democratic leadership announced Thursday that they have reached a loose agreement about how to handle young undocumented immigrants. This comes in the wake of conflicting denials from the administration. The agreement contains increases in border security, but conspicuously leaves out funding for Trump’s much-touted border wall.

Trump angered his Republican congressional counterparts last week when he opted for the Democrats’ three month debt ceiling proposal (tied to hurricane relief) over the Republicans’ 18-month option. And now, this week, he has angered them once again by negotiating with Pelosi and Schumer on DACA.

The deal comes on the heels of a private dinner Wednesday night between Mr. Trump and Democratic congressional leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. Mr. Schumer announced on the Senate floor Thursday that “we all agreed on a framework: Pass DACA protections and additional security measures, excluding the wall.”

Conservative Backlash

President Trump, facing criticism from conservatives, insisted on Twitter that “no deal was made last night on DACA. Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent.”