Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen has met with more than 100 members of Congress, mostly Republicans, since Tuesday as both parties work to nail down an immigration reform deal that likely addresses the expiring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and meets President Trump’s call for border wall funding, a senior DHS official told reporters Thursday.
A DHS spokesperson said Nielsen has met with the Republican Study Committee, Republican Main Street Partnership, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s working group and six senators in the two days since testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Nielsen had told the committee Tuesday she was willing to help Democrats find a solution to DACA.
Thank you @SenDeanHeller for taking time today to talk border security and immigration. We appreciate your continued support of @DHSgov and our frontline personnel. pic.twitter.com/SV07u27Zfx
— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) January 18, 2018
Both parties had appeared to be making progress on an agreement last week, until Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Trump had used derogatory language when referring to Haiti and African countries. The report diverted lawmakers attention from the deal to Trump’s comment.
With government funding set to run out Friday and lawmakers at an impasse over DACA, the issue is not expected to be addressed in a continuing resolution.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Sept. 5 that the DACA program will formally conclude March 5.
.@SecNielsen received a warm welcome from RSC members today for her exceptional job in securing the border and keeping Americans safe. pic.twitter.com/wQTQMBE5Gl
— RSC (@RepublicanStudy) January 17, 2018
