President Donald Trump has demanded drastic changes to border policy and funding provided for his much-discussed border wall by Congress, in return for allowing young undocumented immigrants who came to the US as minors to remain in the country.
US officials have outlined the proposal of the Trump administration, delivered to the nation’s lawmakers on Sunday evening, but swiftly rejected by Congressional Democrats, who say that the President is reneging on his promise, made in September, to enable the so-called Dreamers, who number close to 800,000, to be able to stay in the US. Trump’s demands include full funding for the wall on the border between the US and Mexico, which he has called for since his Presidential campaign, as well as a revamping of the asylum system, and more funds for the hiring of thousands of extra immigration agents.
The principles of the plan are intended as a framework for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to be reworked via legislation. The program was ended last month, but with a six-month period left allowing for Congress to enact its own fix.
Trump told Congressional leaders that the reforms outlined must be part of any legislation attempting to address the recipients of the deferred action program or the unfair situation in which American taxpayers and workers are forced to bear the burden of chain migration and illegal immigration will continue endlessly.