President Trump tore into Democrats for their role in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) negotiations on Saturday, claiming in a tweet that they did not actually want to see a deal on the Obama-era program.
“I don’t believe the Democrats really want to see a deal on DACA. They are all talk and no action. This is the time but, day by day, they are blowing the one great opportunity they have. Too bad!” the president said.
Trump similarly attacked Democrats in an earlier tweet, saying they had missed a “great opportunity” on DACA. {mosads}
The White House is in full negotiations with Congress over creating legislation that would replace the DACA program, which permits certain immigrants who came to the United States illegally as children to work and live in the country. About 800,000 people could face deportation without the program.
The talks also include changes to the visa lottery program and family-based migration. In both instances, Trump is pushing for restrictions to those programs.
The president is also demanding border security measures, specifically money for his wall on the southern border with Mexico, a key campaign pledge.
The talks on the immigration deal have been interrupted by the controversy surrounding Trump’s reported remarks that the United States should not take immigrants from “shithole countries” and should instead look to accept people from places such as Norway.
The remarks have been criticized as racist because they reportedly referred to Haiti, El Salvador and African countries. Norway is a wealthy, predominantly white country.
While Trump has said he did not make the remark about Haiti, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), one of several lawmakers in the meeting where the comments came up, said he had heard them.
DACA recipients will begin to lose their permission to work and live in the country in March.
The talks are also tied to negotiations to fund the government, which will shut down on Jan. 20 without at least a short-term deal.