NASHVILLE, Tenn — It's been billed as a way to end the government shutdown: President Trump offering temporary protections to the children of undocumented immigrants, known as DACA recipients, in exchange for billions of dollars for border wall funding.
"The extension will give them access to work permits, social security numbers, and protection from deportation," the president said in a weekend speech.
However, the proposed deal did not impress folks at the Nashville non-profit Conexion Americas, because they say it was President Trump who sought to remove those protections in the first place.
"Now he's bringing it back to the table as a bargaining chip," said Andres Martinez with Conexion Americas. "Frankly, we shouldn't be using human lives as bargaining chips, whether they're federeal employees or DACA recipients."
The government shutdown, now the longest is U.S. history, entered its 31st day on Monday.
