President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he is willing to possibly create a pathway to citizenship after 10 to 12 years for DREAMers, or undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children, the New York Times reports.
According to CNN, this is the first time the president has specifically confirmed that he would accept a path establishing DREAMers’ citizenship. While a replacement version of former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program hasn’t been finalized yet, Trump unexpectedly told press, “We’re going to morph into [making a path]. It’s going to happen at some point in the future.”
The group of reporters was at the White House for a briefing related to the administration maintaining a “restrictive immigration agenda.” Trump joined the meeting and spoke about their plans without encouragement from anyone else.
“Over a period of 10 to 12 years, somebody does a great job, they work hard, that gives incentive to do a great job,” he said. “Whatever they’re doing, if they do a great job, I think it’s a nice thing to have the incentive, of after a period of years, being able to become a citizen.”
President Trump says he’s open to a pathway to citizenship incentive on DACA: “If they do a great job, I think it’s a nice thing to have the incentive of, after a period of years, being able to become a citizen” https://t.co/9THa5ZLEs7 pic.twitter.com/ip1GsOCOwr
— CNN (@CNN) January 24, 2018
With DACA due to expire on March 5, Trump also said to the reporters that those enlisted in the program shouldn’t stress about potential deportation. “Tell them not to be concerned, OK?” he said, as CNN reports. “Tell them not to worry about it. We’re going to solve the problem. Now, it’s up to the Democrats, but they should not be concerned.”
In a surprise move, Trump’s informal statement has actually garnered some bipartisan support. Democratic Sen. Dirk Durbin of Illinois tweeted a link to a story reporting on the president’s comments, saying alongside it, “The President is headed in the right direction here.”
The President is headed in the right direction here. https://t.co/psQUHeTQqz
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) January 24, 2018
In a statement, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham also supported Trump’s hints at new plans, saying, “I truly appreciate President Trump making it clear that he supports a path to citizenship for DACA receipients. This will greatly help the Senate efforts to craft a proposal which President Trump can sign into law.”
While the lack of an official immigration plan has been a hot topic in the government lately, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also announced on Wednesday that the administration will release a “legislative framework” on immigration this Monday.
President Trump will release a “legislative framework” on immigration issues next week that “represents a compromise that members of both parties can support,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders.
Read more: https://t.co/rENtdPjMac pic.twitter.com/apyN6Q22gE
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 25, 2018
With just over a month to go until DACA’s expiration, it’s crucial for Trump and Congress to agree on a new immigration plan soon.