Key conservative: Rescinding DACA could be ‘catalyst’ for border wall

President Trump’s decision to end an Obama-era immigration program that deferred deportation for who entered the country illegally as children could be the “catalyst” that forces Congress to pass bills to secure America’s southern border and build Trump’s signature border wall, a GOP lawmaker said Wednesday.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, told CNN that Trump won the election by campaigning on border security and that Congress needs to fulfill his promises.

“Most importantly what I hope is this can be a catalyst to do what the American people are demanding we do, both Republicans, Democrats, independents, everyone is demanding that we actually secure the southern border,” Jordan said. “Build the border security wall like he said in his campaign, like we campaigned on.”

{mosads}Trump suggested in a statement on Tuesday that the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program could lead to action by Congress on a host of immigration issues. 

These issues could include a fix to DACA, under which children brought to the U.S. illegally were shielded from deportation and allowed to apply for work permits. It could also include money for a wall, legislation to curb legal immigration and other issues that have been raised by various members of Congress.

Crafting such a large package could also be challenging, however. Congress has failed repeatedly in efforts to advance immigration reform.

When CNN host Chris Cuomo pushed Jordan on the idea that most Americans support a border wall, the conservative noted Trump’s election triumph.

“What I do know, Chris, did President Trump campaign on a border security wall? I think he did, and last time I checked, he won the election,” he said.

“Many Republicans campaigned on that issue, yes they did, and they won the election and we control Congress,” Jordan said. “So this hopefully is the catalyst to get done what the American people are demanding we do.”