Senate Poised to Begin Debate on DACA Relief as Congress Staggers Toward a
Week-Long Recess
Week-Long Recess
Monday, February 12, 2018
 | Both the House and Senate are scheduled to leave Washington at week's end for their brief week-long President's Day recess. However, before it begins its recess, the Senate is likely to be consumed by an open-ended and yet-to-be-structured week-long debate on legislation to provide relief to beneficiaries of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. which President Trump has pledged he will terminate effective March 5, 2018. |
It was unclear at the time of this writing whether the Senate will be able to muster the 60 votes necessary to pass anything relating to DACA this week, especially given the demands from President Trump and his allies in Congress that any such legislation must be accompanied by provisions that would eliminate a number of avenues by which families are reunited within the nation's legal immigration system, as well as by provisions that would eliminate the Diversity Visa program, dramatically increase border security spending, and reduce the due process rights for persons in removal proceedings.
The picture on DACA relief legislation may be a bit more clear by week's end. Then again, maybe not.
In addition to the Senate debate on DACA legislation, the highlight of the coming week's immigration-related activity in Washington includes President Trump's scheduled release of his budget submission for fiscal year 2019 and a House panel hearing on the nexus (if any) between sanctuary cities and opiate trafficking.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the week's schedule includes five hearings and one business meeting at which matters on those subjects could be examined, and possible floor action on one matter of consequence to immigration.
The picture on DACA relief legislation may be a bit more clear by week's end. Then again, maybe not.
In addition to the Senate debate on DACA legislation, the highlight of the coming week's immigration-related activity in Washington includes President Trump's scheduled release of his budget submission for fiscal year 2019 and a House panel hearing on the nexus (if any) between sanctuary cities and opiate trafficking.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the week's schedule includes five hearings and one business meeting at which matters on those subjects could be examined, and possible floor action on one matter of consequence to immigration.
