Trump demands border wall funds for Dreamer proposal

The White House on Sunday said it would seek more funds from Congress to finance building a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as the resources to hire thousands more immigration officers.

The Trump administration’s new “immigration principles and policies” call for a crackdown on border security, more resources to catch individuals residing in the country illegally and a merit-based system that limits chain migration to spouses and children.

The new demands would have to be met for President Trump to agree to legislation that would protect from deportation young immigrants who entered the country illegally as children. These recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, often called “Dreamers,” have been the focal point of recent talks between Trump and Democratic leaders of Congress. 

{mosads}”These findings outline reforms that must be included as part of any legislation addressing the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients,” Trump said in a statement following the announcement of the proposal on Sunday. “Without these reforms, illegal immigration and chain migration, which severely and unfairly burden American workers and taxpayers, will continue without end.”

Trump announced the winding down of the DACA program last month but has expressed interest in a legislative fix.

The tough demands on enforcement may make it harder for the two sides to reach a deal, however, as Democrats were quick to criticize the White House announcement on Sunday. 

The White House said in order to properly protect the nation’s borders, Congress must approve of the construction of a border wall to deter human and drug trafficking.

“Success of border walls are undeniable from the perspective of their operators,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection acting Deputy Commissioner Ronald Vitiello said Sunday.

The plan also takes a hard-line stance against unaccompanied minors who enter the country, advocating for the removal of the legal limitations, or what it calls “loopholes,” currently in place that prevent “unaccompanied alien children” from being deported from the U.S.

“These loopholes in current law create a dramatic pull factor for additional illegal immigration and in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the apprehensions of [unaccompanied alien children] at our southern border. Therefore, the Administration proposes amending current law to ensure the expeditious return of UACs and family units,” a press release stated.

Trump is also calling on Congress to reduce funding for so-called sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal authorities in enforcing immigration law. The proposal calls on Congress to cut funding from certain grants and agreements to punish the “states and localities that refuse to cooperate with Federal authorities.”  

Additionally, the administration is advocating for a “refugee ceiling” that caps how many are let into the country to an unspecified “appropriate level.”

“The refugee ceiling needs to be realigned with American priorities,” the press release continued, pointing to the nation’s historically high average of resettling refugees compared to “the rest of the world combined.”

The plan suggests measures that allow for a swift deportation process once Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other authorities detect and catch those residing in the country illegally.

Administration officials also emphasized the need to change the immigration system from family-based to merit-based, a proposal made by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) in August.

That idea was panned by Democrats and many Republicans, because it also mandated a drastic cut in total immigration numbers.

The new demands represent a shift for the administration in that officials previously had signaled a willingness to not demand money for the wall, but money for border security instead. Now the administration is insisting on money for the wall. 

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke said the new principles aim to “enforce our immigration laws, secure our border, and protect American communities across this country.”

“[Department of Homeland Security] frontline personnel identified many of the principles outlined today, including closing loopholes in our ability to enforce immigration laws and eliminating the magnets for illegal immigration,” Duke said in a statement Sunday night, adding that she looks “forward to working with Congress” on the legislation and possible reforms.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions strongly praised Trump’s proposed measure, saying it will “restore the rule of law to our immigration system, prioritize America’s safety and security, and end the lawlessness.”

“This plan will work. If followed it will produce an immigration system with integrity and one in which we can take pride.  Perhaps the best result will be that unlawful attempts to enter will continue their dramatic decline,” Sessions said in a statement.

Trump’s legislative director, Marc Short, stressed that DACA recipients are full-grown adults who are at a working age. 

The White House sent a letter with the president’s immigration wish list to congressional leadership including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as well as committee chairmen.

Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan called on Congress to address public safety threats affecting the U.S. and to honor the president’s request for funds to hire additional ICE officers. 

The administration said many agencies weighed in to give policy recommendations in order to improve the immigration system including the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and U.S. Customs and Border Control.

Read White House immigration policies and principles on Scribd.