Congressional Republicans are in a holding pattern, awaiting President Trump’s cue to initiate negotiations for a permanent solution for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Established in 2012, DACA was designed to protect young individuals who entered the United States illegally before 2007, allowing them to live without fear of deportation. Currently, approximately half a million people benefit from this program, yet recent reports indicate that DACA recipients without criminal records have been detained by federal immigration authorities, raising alarms about the program’s effectiveness.
With Trump intensifying his mass deportation efforts, fueled by unprecedented funding from Congress, advocates for immigrant rights and Democratic lawmakers are increasingly concerned that DACA recipients could find themselves ensnared in his aggressive immigration enforcement. According to the immigrant rights organization Home is Here, nearly 20 DACA recipients have been detained so far this year. Despite this troubling trend, some Republican lawmakers, who are inclined toward finding a resolution for DACA, continue to defer to the executive branch to drive negotiations.
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Florida, articulated the urgent need for a legislative solution, stating, “I understand they are undocumented. I get it that they broke the law. I get it. But they’re needed in the economy and someone gave them a job.” Earlier this year, Salazar introduced a bill proposing a pathway to legal status for DACA recipients and others, which has garnered bipartisan support. However, conversations with other Republican legislators reveal a consensus: Trump must take the lead in initiating discussions.
Throughout his campaign, Trump committed to launching the most extensive deportation operation in American history. While he has occasionally expressed support for addressing the status of specific groups, such as farmworkers, there has been scant action to back those sentiments.
“America is safer because of President Trump’s immigration policies,” asserted Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, emphasizing the administration’s focus on detaining what they label as “dangerous violent, illegal criminal aliens.”
The coalition of Republicans advocating for DACA has weakened considerably over the years. In 2017, 34 Republicans signed a letter urging then-House Speaker Paul Ryan to secure a permanent fix for DACA following Trump’s initial attempt to dismantle the program. Since then, the sense of urgency to address the issue has dissipated, particularly after the Supreme Court upheld DACA in 2020. Of the original signatories of the letter, only eight remain active members of the House, a reflection of the shifting political landscape.
“Allowing DACA to proceed has become a political hot potato for the Republicans,” noted Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute. “Congress tends to push difficult decisions down the road.”
In recent statements, Trump has indicated a willingness to negotiate a deal for DACA with Democrats but has also made it clear that enforcement remains the top priority. Reports from the White House detail that the administration views issues surrounding DACA as secondary to their primary goal of border security.
Strategists in Congress suggest that, at this juncture in the administration’s tenure, it might be overly optimistic to expect significant negotiations between the cabinet’s immigration enforcement leaders and Democratic lawmakers in Congress. “The Trump administration’s stance is that the only priority for immigration is securing the border,” Chishti explained. “Unless there’s a shift in that messaging from Trump, Republican movement on this issue is unlikely.”
Amidst this backdrop, efforts to forge bipartisan agreements continue, particularly from Rep. Salazar, who emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of DACA recipients. “I have no doubt that we have started a national conversation about what we will do with those people, including the DACA kids, who have roots in the country, who have been working, paying taxes, and do not have a criminal record,” she stated.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania and a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, reiterated his commitment to finding a solution for DACA recipients, underscoring the contributions immigrants have made to the country. He expressed hope that the caucus could provide a framework to kickstart negotiations aimed at offering a resolution for those who have long been part of the American fabric.
Separately, the Problem Solvers Caucus has formally requested a meeting with the White House to discuss potential compromises on immigration. “The political reality is that the president could initiate meaningful discussions at any moment,” remarked Todd Schulte, president of the immigration advocacy group FWD.us.
However, any proposed measures will require bipartisan support in the Senate, where enthusiasm for a DACA solution is currently low. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, stated that while he co-sponsored the Dream Act in 2024 to establish a pathway to legal status for childhood arrivals, he does not foresee any progress until enforcement priorities shift.
Sen. Thom Tillis, who has previously advocated for DACA legalization, suggested that movement on the issue is unlikely before the new year. “I hope the president returns to his earlier stance that there is room for legal immigration,” he remarked.
Sen. John Cornyn echoed these sentiments, indicating that while DACA recipients face significant challenges, he does not anticipate any immigration bills addressing their status being introduced in the near future. “These young people have found themselves in a precarious situation, but I don’t see any prospects for legislative relief anytime soon,” he concluded.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, the fate of DACA remains uncertain, with immigrant advocates and supportive lawmakers urging for a resolution that recognizes the contributions and humanity of those protected under the program.
