Dick Durbin and South Carolina Republican Sen. Less than a week ago the USA president hosted a bipartisan meeting of members of Congress from both sides of the aisle in the White House at which representatives from both main parties underlined their willingness to progress immigration reform. “No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST”. Trump admitted on Twitter to using “tough” language at the meeting, but appeared to deny using the phrase.
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There is internal debate in the West Wing over whether Trump said “shithole” or “shithouse”.
The White House has not denied that Trump said “shithole”, though Trump has already pushed back on some depictions of the meeting.
But the possibility of a shared approach to the issue has been derailed by the controversy over Mr Trump’s alleged vulgar comments in the White House on Thursday.
A letter written on January 3 by the former secretaries stated, “We write … to stress that it should be enacted speedily, in order to meet the significant administrative requirements of implementation, as well as the need to provide certainty for employers and these young people”.
But even a short-term deal could be hard to pass, and everyone seems to be playing the blame game. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said on Sunday that he had spoken to the participants of the meeting right after it ended and before Trump was accused of saying that phrase, and he confirmed that they (the participants) said the words were used.
But with the temporary protections reinforced, some Republicans believe there’s more time to get a more permanent deal done. “Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military”, he tweeted as he prepared to leave Florida.
“DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it”, Trump tweeted, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program at the heart of the immigration impasse.
The Trump administration ended the federal program (DACA) that allowed Dreamers to stay in the U.S.
Regarding DACA, the president reiterated that he was working toward a deal, but that Democrats were not helping.
Durbin has stood by his claim.
“I’m telling you he did not use that word, George, and I’m telling you it’s a gross misrepresentation, ‘ Perdue said Sunday to ABC News” George Stephanopoulos.
“It’s pretty embarrassing when you have to take your children out of the room just to report the news”, said Senator Graham.
Trump has expressed support for legislation to allow DREAMers to stay in the US but wants it linked to funding a wall on the border with Mexico.
And according to the State Department, several countries have summoned USA diplomats to the respective nations they reside in to answer for Trump’s comment, with more expected this week.
Tom Cotton and David Purdue, who were both at the White House meeting, said the President did not say “sh-hole”. A program Trump has been trying to end since coming into office.
Asked about charges of racism for his alleged slur, Trump said: “I’m not a racist. They were not made”, he told the press pool. Trump wrote, “I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians”.
Beyond the controversial comment, directed at immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and the whole of Africa, the president was “fired up” when the senators arrived at the meeting.
Aides to congressional negotiators are set to meet Tuesday to attempt to strike a deal before the approaching deadline.
When it came to talk of extending protections for Haitians, Durbin said Trump replied, “We don’t need more Haitians'”. “To those who want to fix a broken immigration system, you’re going to get something, too”.
Trump’s “sh-hole” remark has had implications in Washington and overseas.
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– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018Unemployment for Black Americans is the lowest ever recorded.
