Texas Democrat blasts 'stupidity' of other Dems in immigration fight

Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, complained Wednesday that the path other Democrats are taking in the immigration fight with Republicans makes no sense, because he doubts the GOP will ever agree to help Dreamers, even if Democrats help them fund a border wall.

"Without having taken a single step toward resolving the status of DREAMers, it is difficult to believe any Democrat would be willing to give President Trump a nickel to fund his 'big beautiful wall,'" Vela wrote in the Rio Grande Guardian Wednesday. "Surprisingly, three of my colleagues in Congress chose to reward Trump's intransigence and inaction — with respect to DREAMers — with support for the president's proposed border wall."

He noted that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., agreed to help Trump fund the wall in return for helping Dreamers. He also singled out Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., for saying he would help start "building it myself" if a deal were there to help Dreamers.

"I am confounded by the negotiating tactics of my fellow Democrats," Vela wrote. "Beyond the stupidity of offering unmatched concessions and negotiating against themselves, my colleagues have begun to refer to the border wall in the same way Trump's base speak about DREAMers and undocumented people."

"Their apparent acceptance of the border wall and disregard of the impact on border communities demonstrates a fundamental lack of thought, logic, and empathy," Vela added.

Vela said one aspect of the wall many Democrats who aren't from Texas are forgetting is the land use issues that arise from building it.

"Sixty-six percent of the land along our southern border is privately owned," he said. "A wall would greatly impose on the property rights of these American citizens."

Vela's complaint was just the latest Democrat complaint about how Democratic leaders handled the shutdown fight with Republicans.

Many of the most liberal Democrats, however, complained that Schumer didn't do enough to ensure help for Dreamers, and caved in the shutdown fight in return for very little from Republicans.