Huge if true. Huge IF. This is the extent of what we know right now. You’ll have to excuse the ZOMG!1!!111!1 tone of the tweet by this hipster:
!!!!! Trump told senators he is open to Gang of 8 immigration bill, per Manchin. Lamar brought it up during meeting and need for reform
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) February 9, 2017
This is the more adult version
Sen Joe Manchin D-WV after White House lunch: Trump open to Gang of 8 immigration bill https://t.co/HAglZGKgEl
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) February 9, 2017
I’d be willing to bet this is closer to what happened:
Joe Manchin tells me & @edatpost 2013 comprehensive immigration reform came up at WH lunch — said Pres Trump said he was open to reviewing
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) February 9, 2017
What, if anything, does this mean? Who knows? At this point your guess is as good as, if not better than, the reporting. At first blush it seems highly unlikely that Trump is going to embrace the former Gang of Eight plan. It would also seem unlikely that he would embrace any form of Gang of Eight with Steve Bannon in the White House. On the other hand, he has asked Congress to fix immigration.
One thing Trump should be pressured to do is to not get on board any “comprehensive” reform. There are just too many moving parts. Congress needs to address individual issues like border security, cracking down on employers who hire illegals, ensuring that talented immigrants are welcomed, etc. And maybe send Lamar Alexander and John McCain to Guantanamo while a bill is being done.
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