WASHINGTON — When President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he’s interested in cutting a deal with Democrats to protect Dreamers brought to the U.S. at a young age, some senators felt a tinge of déjà vu.
“We have to do something about the Dreamers because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age. And many of these are middle-aged people now. They don’t even speak the language of their country,” Trump told moderator Kristen Welker. “I will work with the Democrats on a plan.”
When asked about Trump’s remarks, leading Senate Republicans didn’t close the door to a deal — but they did sound a note of skepticism about the prospects.
“We’ll see. The sweet spot on immigration reform has eluded us a number of times. But obviously if there is a bipartisan willingness to take on that issue, then I’m certainly open to what we can do,” said incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “It’d be better long term if we could come up with some legislative solutions, but in the last few administrations, everything’s been done by executive action. So it’s going to take something to break that logjam.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who sits on the Judiciary Committee and has participated in immigration negotiations before, was more explicit that Trump would have to work to break that logjam.
“I take him seriously, but he’s going to have to put his shoulder to the wheel to get it done,” Cornyn told NBC News.
After all, Trump used similar rhetoric during his first term, but his actions told a different story. As president in 2017, he sought to end the DACA program that protected undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children from deportation. And in 2018, when Sens. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Angus King, I-Maine, cut a bipartisan deal to give Dreamers legal status while giving Trump money for his border wall, Trump’s White House successfully fought to kill the deal because it didn’t also curtail family-based immigration.
Many Republicans view a path to citizenship for Dreamers as “amnesty.” Yet even in a country that has shifted to the right on immigration, the Dreamers remain a sympathetic group.
Cornyn noted that any such bipartisan deal would take a backseat to border security and enforcement, which Republicans are making plans to provide funding for in a big party-line bill early next year.
“I did notice that this would have to be after we deal with the current hemorrhage at the border,” Cornyn said. “If he’s committed to doing it, I think he can probably get it done.”
Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who sponsored the original Dream Act in 2001, said he was “listening closely” to Trump’s comments on the matter Sunday and welcomed talks.
“My ears perked up. After 23 years, I’m ready,” he said. “Anytime, anywhere — let’s sit down.”
“But there’s reason to be skeptical, if not cynical,” Durbin added. “Last term, President-elect Trump walked away from four different bipartisan compromises with Democrats to solve the DACA crisis. Democrats were willing to provide billions of dollars at one point for President Trump’s unpopular border wall in exchange for a bipartisan Dream Act, but we just couldn’t seem to reach a positive answer. … President Trump has, in his power, the ability to bring around many Republicans on the issue of immigration.”
Durbin noted that Trump campaigned in the 2024 election on mass deportation of everyone in the U.S. illegally and is making plans to carry it out. Trump has also called for ending birthright citizenship, although he will run into constitutional obstacles if he attempts it. Last year, Trump successfully fought to sink a bipartisan deal to toughen border security as he campaigned on the issue.
Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said Trump is bluffing about Dreamers.
“He’s never done anything for Dreamers. He will never do anything for Dreamers,” he said. “This is bait, and we just have to not take it.”
Still, some conservatives are expressing general support for that population in the absence of a specific plan to address their immigration status.
“I support Dreamers,” said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said he’s “certainly willing to participate” in “a rational discussion” with Democrats on immigration, but he didn’t sound optimistic it would lead to anything substantial.
“The Democratic position, when you drill down to its essentials, is basically: Open the border. And for people who’ve already come in illegally: Give them amnesty. And it’s not acceptable to me,” Kennedy, who sits on the Judiciary Committee that oversees immigration policy, said in an interview.
When asked if protecting Dreamers is “amnesty,” Kennedy echoed a famous dodge used by former President Bill Clinton.
“Well, it depends on what the definition of is is,” Kennedy said.
Asked what his definition of is is when it comes to amnesty, Kennedy replied, “I don’t know, I gotta talk to President Clinton.”
