GOP senators back Trump’s immigration proposal

Republican senators are coming out in support of the White House framework for immigration reform released Thursday.

A number of GOP senators released statements Thursday supporting the president’s call for increased border security and a path for citizenship for nearly 2 million immigrants in the country illegally.

The White House announced Thursday that President Trump would support a 10-12 year path to citizenship for the country’s 1.8 million immigrants who were protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program or were eligible for such protection. In addition, Trump wants $25 billion for a “border wall system” that could include fencing or other security measures on the border.

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In response, several GOP senators quickly released statements praising Trump’s proposed framework, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

“I want to thank President Trump and his administration for their work on this important issue. This framework builds upon the four pillars for reform that the president has consistently put forth, and indicates what is necessary for the president to sign a bill into law,” McConnell said in his statement.

Similarly, immigration hawk Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) praised the president’s plan as “generous and humane” and Georgia Sen. David Perdue (R) called it “a good deal.”

Looks like both @SenTomCotton & @sendavidperdue are on board with the WH immigration proposal: pic.twitter.com/58kw98nXpe

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 25, 2018

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) called the president’s plan “realistic” and called on Congress to get it done.

“Congress needs to get this done for the good of our nation,” he wrote.

My statement on the White House #immigration framework. Congress needs to get this done for the good of our nation. pic.twitter.com/qZ65jfXT5L

— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) January 25, 2018

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who chairs the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, said Trump’s plan accomplished both law enforcement and humanitarian goals.

“We all agree that Congress needs to act to address those who were brought here illegally through no fault of their own, but we also must make sure that other young people don’t find themselves in the same legal limbo in the future,” he said. “President Trump’s framework accomplishes these goals and gives federal law enforcement the crucial authorities needed to target criminals.”

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said the White House’s decision would provide “certainty” to families affected by the Trump administration’s decision to end the DACA program last year.

“I applaud the White House for offering a solid framework for immigration reform that provides a responsible solution for DACA, border security, and other immigration issues,” Lankford said. “This framework provides certainty for families, enacts common-sense reforms to nuclear family sponsorship policy, and protects our nation.”

Not all GOP senators were on board with the proposal to extend a path to citizenship for DACA recipients, including immigration hard-liner Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R).

“I do not believe we should be granting a path to citizenship to anybody here illegally,” Cruz told reporters, according to Bloomberg. “Doing so is inconsistent with the promises we made to the men and women who elected us.”