Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued Tuesday that President Trump made a “bad faith” offer to end the shutdown over the weekend, and is still holding federal workers hostage to his border wall demand.
“It was not a good faith proposal. It was not intended to end the shutdown,” Schumer said on the Senate floor, adding that it’s only intent was to “shake things up” in negotiations. “The president’s proposal is one-sided, harshly-partisan and was made in bad faith.”
Senate Republicans hope to pass a bill this week based on Trump’s proposal. That bill would include the $5.7 billion Trump wants for border security and a border wall, along with three-year protections for 700,000 Dreamers plus another 300,000 immigrants who are covered by Temporary Protected Status.
“No one can call this new effort a compromise. The president’s proposal is just wrapping paper on the same partisan package and hostage tactics,” Schumer said. “You take off the wrapping paper, and it’s the same partisan, narrow, unacceptable package that cannot pass the House, that cannot pass the Senate.”
Schumer pointed to the bill’s restrictions on the ability of migrants to claim asylum in the U.S. as a reason to oppose it. The bill, which is expected to be voted on by the Senate on Thursday, would force Central American children to apply for asylum in their home countries. Another provision would allow authorities to remove those children seeking asylum in the U.S.
“The asylum changes are a poison pill if there ever was one,” Schumer said.
McConnell said earlier Tuesday that he was putting the White House’s bill on the floor, with the hopes of voting Thursday.
