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Press Release

Rep. Cuellar Attends Bipartisan Meeting with President Trump to Discuss DACA and Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON, January 10, 2018 | Rafael Benavides ((956) 725-0639)
Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and Homeland Security Subcommittee, released the following statement after attending a bipartisan meeting with President Trump, members of the Administration and other Members of Congress to discuss the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and Immigration Reform:

“Today, I met with President Trump and Democrat and Republican senators and representatives in a bipartisan meeting to discuss immigration issues regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program and the DREAMers. I thank everyone who participated in this productive meeting that addressed a variety of concerns from both sides of the aisle and from the Administration.

“I am honored to be one of only three House Democrats, and the only House Member from the border invited to participate in today’s meeting. The inclusion of Members of both parties and both houses of Congress is a positive development that I hope allows us to reach an agreement based on common sense and good policy rather than politics.

“I am confident that moving forward, the President will be more open to working with us proactively at finding solutions that will not require wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on a giant concrete wall on the southern border. My constituents, and especially landowners in my district, have expressed great concern over the border wall plans. As a Member of Congress who represents the border, and who actually lives on the border, I understand the needs and concerns better than those making decisions about border security without ever having visited the area.

“Today’s meeting was highly productive and I do believe that the President, Republicans, and Democrats all want to find a solution that will help the DREAMers. Tomorrow, my colleagues and I will be meeting to come up with a two-phase plan that includes a solution for DACA and, at a later date, comprehensive immigration reform.

“As we go forward, I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner in Congress to resolve issues pertaining to border security and immigration, while working to our country’s DREAMers.”