President Donald Trump believes a 2013 immigration bill would have given "amnesty" to illegal immigrants – and reportedly is not open to considering it again.
In a meeting with journalists Thursday, press secretary Sean Spicer refuted reports West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin told journalists the president is receptive to the so-called Gang of Eight bill, The Hill reported.
But in a tweet from an NBC reporter, Manchin indicated the opposite.
"He is open to reviewing the piece of legislation. He says, 'Well, you've got to start working on it again.' And I says [sic], 'Absolutely, we will,'" Manchin said, according to a tweeted conversation.
Spicer disagreed.
"Earlier in the meeting he said specifically at one point the Gang of Eight bill is amnesty," Spicer said, according to The Hill. "Then he said, 'if you guys want to work on something, I'm willing to listen.'"
When asked specifically if he opposes the Gang of Eight bill, Spicer said "yes," The Hill reported.
The 2013 bill, which would have given millions of illegal immigrants the chance to apply for citizenship after paying a fine and back taxes, passed the Senate but was never taken up by the House.
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