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Trump pulls support from Republican immigration bills after weeks of supporting them

"Republicans should stop wasting their time on immigration."

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House June 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. Trump spoke extensively about current immigration issues during the meeting.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House June 21, 2018 in Washington, DC. Trump spoke extensively about current immigration issues during the meeting. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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.”

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.

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.” 

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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.

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.

In all, the U.S. government has admitted to separating over 3,300 children with no concrete plans for reuniting them with their relatives.