Schumer leads Democrats to obstruct immigration legislation, ‘keep the focus on Trump’
Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) on Tuesday dismissed a legislative proposal backed by Republican leaders to keep immigrant families together at the border, arguing that President Trump could fix the problem more easily with a flick of his pen. A move he ultimately did take, signing an executive order.
“There are so many obstacles to legislation and when the president can do it with his own pen, it makes no sense,” Schumer told reporters. “Legislation is not the way to go here when it’s so easy for the president to sign it.”
Asked if that meant Democrats would not support a bill backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to keep immigrant families together while seeking asylum on the U.S. border, Schumer said they want to keep the focus on Trump.
“Again, the president can change it with his pen,” he said, warning that Republicans would likely try to add “poison-pill provisions” to any immigration bill that came to the floor.
“Unacceptable additions have bogged down every piece of legislation we’ve done,” Schumer said.
Schumer’s opposition to a legislative fix means there likely won’t be a quick end to the emotional images of immigrant children being separated from their families as lawsuits will likely be filed against the executive order, just like those filed during the Obama administration.
“I support, and all of the senators of the Republican conference support, a plan that keeps families together,” McConnell told reporters.
“We need to fix the problem and it requires a legislative solution,” he added.
[…] Schumer has no interest in legislation, wants the “focus to remain on Trump” […]