Immigration talks stall after Trump's vulgar dismissal of certain nations

Trump denied the language used when dismissing African nations, Haiti, and El Salvador.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

last updated 12 January 2018

Bipartisan immigration talks stalled on Thursday after Trump threw "gasoline to the fire," in the words of Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), by dismissing immigrants from "shithole countries." While the White House did not reject the reports, which were supplied by a Democratic aide to NBC News, President Trump appeared to deny his word choice on Friday, tweeting:

Trump's frustrations had reportedly boiled over during talks about the visa lottery program and the temporary protected status program, which his administration just ended for some 200,000 Salvadorans who have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade. The Congressional Black Caucus chairman, Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), claimed the president's comments are "further proof that his Make America Great Again agenda is really a Make America White Again agenda."

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), who was present at the meeting, confirmed Trump did not approve of the bipartisan plan, The New York Times reports. Durbin added: "I don't know what happens next."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.