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Ryan says GOP, Trump working on solution for immigrant kids

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  • ASSOCIATED PRESS

    House Speaker Paul Ryan during a news conference on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON >> Congressional Republicans are working with the Trump transition team on a solution for immigrants brought illegally to this country as kids, House Speaker Paul Ryan said today.

Hundreds of thousands of these immigrants gained temporary protections and work permits from President Barack Obama. While campaigning for president, Donald Trump promised to undo those protections, putting the immigrants at risk of deportation, although he said last month he hoped to “work something out” to help them.

Ryan didn’t detail what Congress and Trump would do about the program, called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. But when questioned on a CNN town hall by a woman who identified herself as a DACA recipient with a young daughter, Ryan told her he did not want to see her deported.

“I can see you love your daughter, you are a nice person who has a great future ahead of you, and I hope your future is here,” Ryan said.

“What we have to do is find a way to make sure that you can get right with the law, and we’ve got to do this in a good way so that the rug doesn’t get pulled out from under you and your family gets separated.”

Host Jake Tapper pointed out that Trump, during the campaign, promised a “deportation force” to round up the more than 11 million immigrants in the country illegally. Ryan dismissed that idea.

“I’m here to tell you in Congress it’s not happening.”

Instead, Ryan said Trump has asked lawmakers to focus on two priorities with respect to illegal immigration: securing the border and deporting immigrants who are violent, repeat criminals.

House GOP lawmakers and aides have also said recently they’re working on how to pay for border security to make good on Trump’s promise of building a wall on the border with Mexico, although at least initially taxpayers would foot the bill — not Mexico, as Trump promised.

DACA has extended work permits and temporary deportation relief to more than 700,000 immigrants brought illegally to this country as youths since its creation in 2012. Trump has said it and other Obama executive actions are unconstitutional, since they involved going around Congress, a position Ryan repeated Thursday.

DACA permits need to be renewed every two years, so Trump could cancel out the program over time by ordering agencies to stop processing new applications and renewals. There is high anxiety in immigrant communities about what he will do.

“We have to figure out how to have a humane solution to this very legitimate, sincere problem and respect the rule of law,” Ryan said.

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  • The race between Trump and other Republicans to see who could be more sociopathic may be slowing down. Republicans of course pound their chests in ignorance regarding deporting millions of people. Trump’s supporters are going to find out to their regret that they were lied to again by their orange hero. Deporting that many people is impossible. The ACLU is stepping in to provide counsel and force courtroom time for folks who will be deported, and more cities are coming forward to remind Mr. Trump about the Tenth Amendment regarding sanctuary cities.

    Donald Trump is a psychotic.

      • Just keep beating your chest, even though your vote was meaningless.

        I think you said that you’re on full bore socialized medicine (VA) so what’s it to you if others (who actually pay for their medical coverage) lose it, right? As long as you have your coverage, who cares? Let other folks suffer. That’s the Republican way!

        • As they say, every vote counts. Wrong on VA. Pay for my own medical coverage. That’s the American way not the good for nothing I want more free stuff Democrat way.

    • I’m sure I heard Trump saying he was deporting “illegal” immigrants and that he’s targeting “illegal” immigrants that has committed crimes. But that’s me. I listen carefully before commenting.

      • People are not illegal. One doesn’t say “illegal shoplifter” or illegal anything else. The “illegal” moniker was first used elsewhere about 80 years ago, and it’s just as odious and ignorant as it was then. It’s a term for people who are afraid of their own shadows – like Republicans, who have become loathsome and un-American cowards.

        The children who were brought here innocently, and have only known the United States, should not, and probably will not be deported. Mr. Ryan knows now that gears are turning the ACLU and other similar patriotic groups to force the government to follow the law and Constitution. Every deportation order will be challenged, and court / Immigration Law Judge time will be demanded for every single one. Mr. Ryan knows that there are not enough judges or courthouses to manage that mess and there’s no hope of every getting to that capacity.

        Read up a little about the 1930s in Europe. You might, at long last, learn something.

        • For a person to claim to be educated, you don’t seem to know much. A shoplifter is someone who has already committed a crime. Calling someone an “illegal shoplifter” is redundant. On the other hand, an immigrant who did not enter the country legally is in fact illegal.

          But if want to boast how supposedly educated you are to boost your self esteem, go right ahead. You and Trump are like two peas in a pod.

  • These republicans who are now pounding their chests and claiming to be champions of immigrant children are such hypocrites. Where was this cooperation the past 8 years? So much could have been accomplished if they had just done their jobs instead of being obstructionists.

      • Country artist Lee Greenwood, best known for his patriotic hit “God Bless the U.S.A.,” is scheduled to perform for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration during the “‘Make America Great Again!’ Welcome Celebration” on Jan 19, the day before he is sworn in.

        Additionally, Greenwood’s fellow country artist Toby Keith, as well as singer Jennifer Holliday and southern rock band 3 Doors Down, have been added to the lineup for the pre-inauguration concert, the Inaugural Committee said Friday.

        Prior to Friday’s unveiling, Cowboy Troy, country band Big & Rich and America’s Got Talent singer Jackie Evancho were among the entertainers who were listed as performing at Trump celebrations.

        • Fake News Alert – Jennifer Holiday says she has no idea where this came from.

          Lee Greenwood is still alive?

          Wow! They were actually able to book Jackie Evancho? THE Jackie Evancho? Really??

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