A San Antonio congressman said he has a bipartisan plan to fix the country’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program before those protections run out on March 5.
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, has faith his legislation will form the foundation that fosters a deal between Congress and the White House concerning immigration and border security.
Hurd, whose district includes San Antonio, said the Uniting and Securing America Act, which he crafted with help of California Democratic Congressman Pete Aguilar, extends DACA protections for an estimated 800,000 young immigrants who were brought to the country as children.
“It’s time to come up with a new plan, and that’s why we offer up this bipartisan solution that gives a permanent legislative solution to these children who come here through no fault of their own,” Hurd said.
Hurd said the plan also calls for more security measures, including a provision that requires the U.S. Homeland Security Department to conduct a mile by mile analysis of country’s 2,000 mile border with Mexico and, if necessary, build physical barriers in certain segments within that region.
“Building a wall from sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to do border security; there’s no question about that,” Hurd said. “But there are some areas where a physical barrier makes sense.”
President Trump began DACA and immigration reform discussions with members of Congress this week as it relates to a government funding bill that must pass before the Jan. 19 deadline.
Ryan Poppe can be reached at rpoppe@tpr.org or on Twitter @RyanPoppe
