As Senate debates immigration, Trump warns of 'last chance' for DACA deal

The Senate begins debate on immigration legislation this week, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announcing he supports President Trump's "fair compromise" for 1.8 million immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children, known colloquially as DREAMers. The "compassionate resolution" would give DREAMers legal protections but limit other forms of legal immigration, a nonstarter for Democrats, CNBC reports.
The Secure and Succeed Act of 2018, introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), perhaps is the closest proposal to what has been requested by Trump. The bill would "provide a path to citizenship for ... [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] beneficiaries, but also allocate $25 billion for border security, eliminate the diversity visa lottery, and drastically curtail so-called 'chain migration,' limiting family-based immigrant visas to spouses and unmarried children younger than 18," Time writes.
"Republicans want to make a deal and Democrats say they want to make a deal," Trump tweeted Tuesday, adding: "This will be our last chance, there will never be another opportunity! March 5th." As Politico notes: "March 5 is not the deadline anymore, as a federal judge has blocked the termination of DACA" an injunction that likely won't get lifted until late spring.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
The Years at the Harold Pinter Theatre: an 'unmissable' evening
The Week Recommends Eline Arbo's 'spellbinding' adaptation of Annie Ernaux's memoir transfers to the West End
By The Week UK Published
-
The White Lotus: a delicious third helping of Mike White's toxic feast
The Week Recommends 'Wickedly funny' comedy-drama stars Jason Isaacs, Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood
By The Week UK Published
-
Classic car insurance: how best to protect your vintage vehicle
The Explainer Insuring your classic car may be cheaper than you think
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Trump officials try to reverse DOGE-led firings
Speed Read Mass firings by Elon Musk's team have included employees working on the H5N1 bird flu epidemic and US nuclear weapons programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
Speed Read The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to IRS, Social Security files
Speed Read If cleared, the Department of Government Efficiency would have access to tax returns, bank records and other highly personal information about most Americans
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms RFK Jr. as health secretary
Speed Read The noted vaccine skeptic is now in charge of America's massive public health system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump lays out plans for broad 'reciprocal' tariffs
Speed Read Tariffs imposed on countries that are deemed to be treating the US unfairly could ignite a global trade war and worsen American inflation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Top US prosecutors resign rather than drop Adams case
speed read The interim US attorney for the Southern District and five senior Justice Department officials quit following an order to drop the charges against Mayor Eric Adams
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Senate confirms Gabbard as intelligence chief
Speed Read The controversial former Democratic lawmaker, now Trump loyalist, was sworn in as director of national intelligence
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Putin plan Ukraine peace talks without Kyiv
Speed Read President Donald Trump spoke by phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not included
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published