President Trump declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program "probably dead" Sunday on Twitter. That's after bipartisan negotiations to craft an immigration deal resulted in a partisan dispute.
While discussing the Temporary Protected Status program, Trump reportedly called certain nations "shithole countries." The only Democrat in attendance said Trump used that exact phrase repeatedly; but two Republican senators said they "did not recall the president saying these comments specifically."
Trump has denied he used the phrase. On Sunday, he said, "Democrats don't really want" a deal to make DACA protections federal law but rather "just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military."
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Democrats had tied DACA negotiations to talks about funding the government beyond a looming shutdown, which could happen Friday; Republicans wanted more money for defense.
The Trump administration ordered an end to DACA in September. But a judge blocked that decision, allowing the program to receive renewal applications.
In a second tweet Sunday morning, Trump said, "I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST."
