President Donald Trump torpedoed any hope Congressional Republicans had of passing immigration legislation in the next two weeks, telling lawmakers Friday to stop “wasting their time” and to instead wait for a “Red Wave.”
Republicans should stop wasting their time on Immigration until after we elect more Senators and Congressmen/women in November. Dems are just playing games, have no intention of doing anything to solves this decades old problem. We can pass great legislation after the Red Wave!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2018
Trump’s tweet directing Congress to forget about passing an immigration bill comes after two tweets earlier Friday morning asking Americans to “elect more R’s” because the right now we have the “dumbest and the worst.”
On Thursday, Trump hinted that even if House Republicans passed an immigration bill, it would fail in the Senate.
“What is the purpose of the House doing good immigration bills when you need 9 votes by Democrats in the Senate […]” he tweeted.
What is the purpose of the House doing good immigration bills when you need 9 votes by Democrats in the Senate, and the Dems are only looking to Obstruct (which they feel is good for them in the Mid-Terms). Republicans must get rid of the stupid Filibuster Rule-it is killing you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2018
Just two days ago, after signing an executive order reversing a draconian immigration policy that he had imposed, Trump’s main message has always been the same: it is up to Congress to address immigration through legislation. That message was branded on the executive order itself through its title, “Affording Congress an Opportunity to Address Family Separation.”
After a vote on the more conservative of two GOP proposals failed in the House Thursday afternoon, leadership announced it would delay a vote on the “compromise” legislation until next week. This, however, was before Trump’s Friday morning tweet.
Now the best shot Congress has had in recent months to address immigration has been squandered by President Trump yet again, leaving many Republicans feeling defeated.
"Game Over."@RepSanfordSC just told us @realDonaldTrump just completely killed any chance of immigration reform.@NewDay
— John Berman (@JohnBerman) June 22, 2018
Congressional action on immigration is needed more than ever, especially in light of recent revelations that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristjen Nielsen has admitted to lawmakers that family separations at the border could resume despite Trump’s executive order.
Secretary Nielsen privately told lawmakers the Administration may go back to separating children from their parents. Congress must ensure that NEVER happens. I'm urging the House Appropriations Committee to prevent funds from ever being used to separate families entering the US: pic.twitter.com/JzZu58AUOf
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) June 21, 2018
In all, the U.S. government has admitted to separating over 3,300 children with no concrete plans for reuniting them with their relatives.