There is still a deal that could keep protections under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program alive, and President Donald Trump is likely still open for negotiations, Rep. Scott Taylor said Tuesday.
"I still believe that there's a deal to be had that has more border security and has more disincentives for illegal immigration and a fix for DACA," the Virginia Republican told CNN's "New Day."
"I don't think that's a hard and fast position, what the president just said."
On Monday, Trump tweeted:
The tweet echoed statements the president has made about DACA, including at Monday's White House Easter egg roll.
Trump, however, rejected a deal Democrats offered up to allow $25 billion to help build a border wall in exchange for a pathway to citizenship for 118 million DACA recipients, show co-host Alisyn Camerota pointed out.
"I think that was with the Senate," said Taylor. "I will tell you in the House where I am, that's not what I was hearing from my counterparts, my colleagues on the Democrat side.
They were [saying] 'Clean Dream Act. Clean Dream Act.'"
Several people in the House, however, want a bipartisan bill, he said.
"They were trying to work [out] something, but it never really gained traction," said Taylor. "I'm not sure exactly what the president wants, but I do believe there's a pathway there that gets enough votes on both sides. "
Taylor, though, said Republican voters in his district do not consider the DACA issue a priority.
"I think that in general I think folks want to do something about this population, but I will tell you that probably the majority of my voters also want more border security, also want disincentives for future illegal immigration so as not to have the same issue in a few years," said Taylor.
"But I don't think it's a top priority, but in general people do want a solution for this population."
There was "some tensions" on both sides over the original $25 billion bill that led to a deal not happening, and Taylor said that troubles him.
"I think that we should have a deal," he said. "I think that we should come to a solution that again has border security, has future disincentives but also deals with that population.
"There are people who are really worried out there. Very anxious whether they're in that population, their families, their friends, their employers. I think it's important that we come to a solution. I do believe there is a path to make it happen."
There is currently a bill in the House that isn't quite where it needs to be to get enough votes, said Taylor, "but they're having listening sessions, bringing people in from all sides of the debate to figure out a way to get a bill passed through the House. "