Trump defends immigration proposal against ‘amnesty’ criticism from conservatives

President Trump early Sunday sought to sell his new immigration proposal, which includes funding for a wall along the southern border and extended protection for certain immigrant groups, amid pushback from Democrats and hard-line conservatives.

In a series of tweets, Trump chastised Democrats for dismissing his plan, and attempted to assuage immigration hard-liners who likened the administration’s latest proposal to amnesty for immigrants already in the country illegally.

“No, Amnesty is not a part of my offer,” Trump tweeted. “It is a 3 year extension of DACA. Amnesty will be used only on a much bigger deal, whether on immigration or something else. Likewise there will be no big push to remove the 11,000,000 plus people who are here illegally-but be careful Nancy!”

No, Amnesty is not a part of my offer. It is a 3 year extension of DACA. Amnesty will be used only on a much bigger deal, whether on immigration or something else. Likewise there will be no big push to remove the 11,000,000 plus people who are here illegally-but be careful Nancy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2019

{mosads}In two other tweets, Trump singled out Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for her opposition to the proposal, calling her a “Radical Democrat” and blaming her for the condition of the streets in San Francisco, which falls in her congressional district.

Trump called on Pelosi and Democrats to “do the right thing for the Country & allow people to go back to work” as a partial government shutdown triggered by his demand for wall funding stretched into its 30th day. 

Nancy Pelosi and some of the Democrats turned down my offer yesterday before I even got up to speak. They don’t see crime & drugs, they only see 2020 – which they are not going to win. Best economy! They should do the right thing for the Country & allow people to go back to work.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2019

Nancy Pelosi has behaved so irrationally & has gone so far to the left that she has now officially become a Radical Democrat. She is so petrified of the “lefties” in her party that she has lost control…And by the way, clean up the streets in San Francisco, they are disgusting!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2019 

Pelosi called Trump’s proposal a “non-starter” shortly before Trump unveiled the details amid media reports that it would include wall funding and protections for “Dreamers” and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients. The deal would also reopen swaths of the government that have been closed since late December.

In a tweet on Sunday, she called on Trump to reopen the government before any border talks.

.@realDonaldTrump, 800,000 Americans are going without pay. Re-open the government, let workers get their paychecks and then we can discuss how we can come together to protect the border. #EndTheShutdown https://t.co/8RKUTnhgBd

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 20, 2019

Trump on Saturday proposed a deal that would include more than $5 billion in funding for a wall along the southern border, a three-year extension of protections for “Dreamers” who benefit from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and TPS holders, and funding for additional immigration judges.

A number of Republicans were quick to praise the proposal, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would bring it up for a vote this week.

Democratic leaders and rank-and-file members were just as quick to criticize Trump’s plan, calling it a “non-starter,” “more hostage taking” and “non-serious.”

The president’s announcement also drew backlash from conservatives like Ann Coulter, who compared his suggestion to amnesty, and immigration reduction group NumbersUSA.

Trump proposes amnesty. We voted for Trump and got Jeb!

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 19, 2019

Vice President Mike Pence during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” also pushed back against conservatives who likened Trump’s plan to amnesty.

“This is not amnesty,” Pence said. “There’s no pathway to citizenship there’s no permanent status here at all, which is what amnesty contemplates.

“I think as the American people look at this, Chris, they’re going to see this for what it is,” he added.

“President Trump said ‘bring me the ideas from all sides, let’s put them all on the table.’ The president has made it clear what he would support. Now it’s time for the Senate and the House to start voting to secure our border and reopen the government.”

Updated at 11:43 a.m.