White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said that even though President Trump’s immigration plan includes some provisions Trump campaigned against, the proposal isn’t a “switch” and priorities such as chain migration will be solved eventually.
Sanders fielded questions Monday night from Fox Business News host Lou Dobbs concerning aspects of Trump’s immigration proposal, just after it was announced that Trump would get behind a plan to provide citizenship to the 1.8 million immigrants eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protects those who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children — not just those who are already recipients of the program.
Dobbs pointed out that Trump campaigned against DACA and amnesty, and for a border wall. Dobbs claimed the plan didn’t address chain migration, an issue Trump has made a priority to end.
“A lot of people are scratching their heads and asking how does all this square up with the man we elected president, based on what he said on the campaign trail,” Dobbs said. “A man who kept every one of his promises.”
Sanders pushed back and said that border security was Trump’s biggest priority.
“There is an end to the visa lottery system. There is an end to chain migration,” Sanders said. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”
Dobbs then interjected and asked Sanders to clarify what she meant.
“How long is not overnight?” Dobbs asked. “How many nights does that reach?”
“There is a process, Lou” Sanders said. “This isn't a switch.”
“I’m basically kidding you,” Dobbs said.
“I'm not used to the media having a sense of humor, Lou, so that's a new one for me,” Sanders said as she laughed.
Trump has received criticism for his immigration plan from some conservatives, who argue it violates some of his campaign promises. Instead, those conservatives are working to garner support for an immigration reform bill written by Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Raul Labrador, R-Idaho.
Their plan would protect and provide a way for citizenship to those already covered by the DACA program. Additionally, the plan vows to cut the visa lottery system and end chain migration.
Chain migration would be ended also under Trump’s plan, but first, millions on the waiting list must first be processed.
The Trump administration announced last year that DACA would end and that it was up to Congress to legislate a new program by March 5, when the program expires.
