Trump Blasts Bipartisan DACA Proposal as 'Big Step Backwards'

President Donald Trump on Friday rejected a bipartisan "Dreamer" immigration plan proposed by a group of U.S. senators, saying it did not properly fund his long-touted wall along the southern border with Mexico while calling it "a step backward."

The so-called bipartisan DACA deal presented yesterday to myself and a group of Republican Senators and Congressmen was a big step backwards. Wall was not properly funded, Chain & Lottery were made worse and USA would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018

....countries which are doing badly. I want a merit based system of immigration and people who will help take our country to the next level. I want safety and security for our people. I want to stop the massive inflow of drugs. I want to fund our military, not do a Dem defund....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018

....Because of the Democrats not being interested in life and safety, DACA has now taken a big step backwards. The Dems will threaten “shutdown,” but what they are really doing is shutting down our military, at a time we need it most. Get smart, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018

Under the proposal, the United States "would be forced to take large numbers of people from high crime countries which are doing badly," Trump added. 

The president reiterated his call for a merit-based immigration system.

It was during Thursday's meeting that Trump reportedly made his remarks about "sh**hole countries" like Africa and Haiti, a comment that has boomeranged around the world, drawing support from his base and scorn from the rest.

But Trump seemed to suggest he didn't make the comment.

The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. What was really tough was the outlandish proposal made - a big setback for DACA!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018