Republican and Democratic legislators who are looking ahead to elections in 2018 and 2020 are pushing the discussion of immigration reforms in different directions, according to The Hill.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., — all of whom are prospects to run for president in 2020 — say they will not support a year-end funding bill while young immigrants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program face deportation.
Hispanic Caucus members in the House also said they would only support legislation that includes protection for the DACA recipients.
However, Democrats who are up for re-election in 2018 reject that strategy, in an aim to show swing voters that they would work with Republicans when it makes sense to do so, according to The Hill.
"I think it's stupid talk. You don't want to shut the government down," said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., although he said he did want to protect the DACA recipients.
Republicans brought in no Democrats in either the House or Senate for votes on healthcare or tax reform bills. Democrats have argued they are ready to work with the president on issues if he gets behind some of their ideas, according to The Hill.
"I don't have much appetite for a government shutdown and I don't like lines in the sand," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, adding that helping the DACA recipients is a priority, but she did not endorse linking government funding with an immigration deal, The Hill reported.
Republicans behind the scenes appear willing to make a deal with Democrats, The Hill reported.
"Some of us are trying to actually make a law, not make a point. We've done enough of making a point," said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., in The Hill.
House Republicans want to take the issue off the table before 2018 elections, The Hill reported. A group of 34 Republicans asked House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., in a letter Tuesday to schedule a vote on a permanent solution for later in December, according to The Washington Post.
"We should not be using these young people's lives as political footballs," Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., told reporters, according to The Post.