Senate Republicans on Monday released the text of their bill to carry out President Trump’s new immigration plan to end the government shutdown, saying they’re intent on holding an initial vote later this week.
The bill, dubbed “End the Shutdown and Secure the Border Act,” includes Mr. Trump’s $5.7 billion request for border fencing and a new $12.7 billion disaster relief package, combined with bills to reopen nine government departments that have been without money for a month.
It would also grant a three-year amnesty from deportation to about 1 million migrants who are currently here under executive actions, but whose legal status beyond that is highly questionable. That includes some 700,000 illegal immigrant “Dreamers” who are protected by the Obama-era DACA program and another 325,000 migrants who are under a tentative humanitarian protected status.
The bill also includes funding for a daily average of 52,000 detention beds to hold immigrants awaiting deportation. That’s in line with Mr. Trump’s request, but far more than Democrats have said they are willing to accept. A new contingent of 750 Border Patrol agents is also part of the plan — which Democrats have also been cool to.Read more
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