President Trump declared the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program "probably dead" Sunday on Twitter. That's after bipartisan negotiations to craft an immigration deal resulted in a partisan dispute.
While discussing the Temporary Protected Status program, Trump reportedly called certain nations "shithole countries." The only Democrat in attendance said Trump used that exact phrase repeatedly; but two Republican senators said they "did not recall the president saying these comments specifically."
Trump has denied he used the phrase. On Sunday, he said, "Democrats don't really want" a deal to make DACA protections federal law but rather "just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military."
Democrats had tied DACA negotiations to talks about funding the government beyond a looming shutdown, which could happen Friday; Republicans wanted more money for defense.
The Trump administration ordered an end to DACA in September. But a judge blocked that decision, allowing the program to receive renewal applications.
In a second tweet Sunday morning, Trump said, "I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST."
