Race To Pass Congressional Budget Has DACA Recipients' Lives On Hold

By Holliday Moore
Published: Monday, December 4, 2017 - 10:51am

Dreamers are caught in the middle of Congress' push to pass a budget or face a federal government shutdown on Friday.

Efforts to meet the end of the week budget deadline are already fraught with party-line agendas.

Key among Republicans is a long-term spending package, needing bi-partisan support to pass, while Democrats are focusing hard on immigration, health care and elderly issues.

"DACA is critical to many members, CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) with that deadline looming, pensions is critical to many members," said Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva.

Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake said Republican leadership and the White House are working with him toward a solution on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

"With DACA, I'm not interested in making a statement about it. We need a bill that can pass," Flake said. "You know, these kids are going to be timed out pretty soon."

But, tensions are up after Trump blasted Democrat leadership in a social media post last week, triggering the Democrats to cancel negotiations for the time being with the President.