Why Congressional Democrats See No Urgency to Pass a Border Bill: NPR

President Trump is trying to strengthen public pressure on congressional Democrats to comply with his government's immigration policy, but the majority in the House rejects new White House proposals aimed at discouraging the influx of immigrants to the US-Mexico border.

In a tweet on Wednesday morning, the president called on Congress to return sooner than scheduled after the April break of two weeks to pass a bill on borders.

Last week, government officials told White House reporters that they wanted Congress to take action to change the immigration laws that govern family detention, the treatment unaccompanied minors at the border and criteria that migrants can use to apply for asylum. The common goal is to discourage more migrants from attempting to cross the border and facilitate their continued detention when they do so.

Drew Hammill, spokesperson for President Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Told NPR that the White House's ideas were "an anti-immigrant wish list that does nothing to keep our country safe and secure. to erode our values ​​as a country of immigrants ".

Last week, the President defended congressional action at the border, noting that the bipartite spending agreement reached in February and signed by the president included important cross-border resources, including funding from $ 1.375 billion to create barriers along the US-Mexico border.

"There is money to allow more judges to deal with cases more quickly, there is money for humanitarian aid to people who are coming in, there is some money for it. 39 money for repairs and material necessities that might exist, and there are funds to send to the northern triangle countries [Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador] to try to solve the problem before it reaches our shores, "Pelosi told the press.

House Democrats plan to act on immigration this year, but on a reformed Dream Act aimed at conferring legal status and a pathway to citizenship to nearly 3.6 million people who have been brought to the states United States in childhood and residing illegally or in the country. The legal limbo of the Deferred Action program for the arrival of young people of the Obama era, challenged in court.

For two years, President Trump has offered various endorsements to the Dream Act and has introduced him to the table in sporadic immigration negotiations that have not yet resulted in a proposal for a. tangible immigration that can be approved by both Houses of Congress. .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Who is due to be re-elected in 2020, told reporters last week that he was open to a new round of immigration talks. "I think it's high time, on both sides, to sit down together to see what we could accept to improve the situation, not only for border security, but also for the laws on the asylum rights that are very difficult in the face of this attack, people, "he said. He did not specify what could eliminate a 60-vote hurdle in the Senate.

Efforts to adopt comprehensive immigration legislation have failed under the two previous administrations and are much less likely to succeed under Trump as the two sides move away from the policies. needed in the run-up to the 2020 elections.

The president and his allies have always seen in his uncompromising position with regard to immigrants and immigration a reason for his victory in 2016 and a key to strengthening his prospects for reelection. At the same time, Democrats see in opposition to Trump's immigration policies one of the reasons for their own successes at the mid-term in 2018 and believe they can campaign on the issue with minority voters at the polls. horizon 2020.

Mara Liasson and Kelsey Snell of NPR contributed to this report.