Senate Republicans are preparing for an immigration reform bill early next year and ignoring Democratic demands for emergency measures to deal with immigrants brought to the United States illegally by their parents.
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn told The Hill newspaper an overcrowded legislative calendar leaves no room for immigration issues this year.
"I think it's more likely than not to be part of a January-February timeframe," the Texas Republican said after a meeting Thursday with President Donald Trump.
Senate Democrats are calling on the GOP majority to amend a year-end spending measure to include legislation to protect about 800,000 young adults from deportation. The so-called "dreamers" got a temporary amnesty under President Barack Obama.
President Donald Trump suspended the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program, calling Obama's action illegal. He asked Congress to find a legislative solution to the problem.
Trump in September told dreamers they are safe for at least six months until Congress fixes the issue.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said he is "confident that there is strong bipartisan support in Congress" to pass an immigration measure this year.
But Cornyn rejected any suggestion of amending the spending bill.
"That's the pipe dream of some of the Democrats who think this will be swept up in the year-end spending bill," Cornyn said.
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