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Editorial: Immigration deal may be imperfect, but compromise should be encouraged

 
Published Sept. 21, 2017

It is obviously premature to congratulate President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats on finding an incremental immigration solution, but their willingness to discuss a deal for America's Dreamers is a good sign. Why is that? Because it has drawn howls of protest from the more extreme factions of both political parties. This is at least an attempt at the kind of compromise too often missing in the winner-takes-all politics of Washington.

News of the negotiations between Trump and congressional minority leaders Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer first emerged late last week. The White House has sent mixed signals when it comes to the plan's details and the level of Trump's support for it, but the general outline seems to be this:

Congress would pass legislation that would enshrine the protections found in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy originated by a President Barack Obama's executive order in 2012. These children of undocumented immigrants have been in limbo since Trump recently declared his intention to rescind DACA protections early next year. In return for protecting these so-called Dreamers, Democrats would go along with Trump's wishes for increased border security, though stopping short of funding a wall.

The proposed deal had barely been broached when the anti-immigration wing of the Republican Party exploded with anger. "Trump's base is blown up, destroyed, irreparable, and disillusioned beyond repair,'' Iowa Rep. Steve King said on Twitter. Conservative websites such as Breitbart sounded even more apocalyptic. Meanwhile, Democrats have expressed reservations about negotiating with Trump. Dozens of protesters interrupted a Pelosi event in San Francisco on Monday, seemingly unhappy that more concessions were not gained for immigrants.

While passion is commendable, this my-way-or-the-highway approach has gotten the nation nowhere for decades. Everyone can argue about the details, but isn't this the point of compromise? Each side is willing to swallow something distasteful in order for both sides to gain something near and dear to their hearts.

For Democrats, the simple truth is this: The House, the Senate and the presidency all belong to the GOP. Cutting a deal with Trump at least gets Democrats a seat at the table instead of standing on the sideline criticizing GOP policies that stand a good chance of harming their constituents. Mainstream Republicans, meanwhile, should see this as an opportunity to regain control of their own party. Trump would take the heat, and the GOP is able to inch closer to the center and its core values.

The plan is not fully baked, and it may blow up. There is a chance Trump could revive talk of the wall in exchange for DACA concessions, and rank-and-file Democrats might balk if they think increased security will become a mass deportation strategy. Even so, it's a welcome, and rare, sight to see politicians from opposite parties willing to negotiate for the greater good.