Republican support has shifted in his favor because Trump on Saturday changed not just his tone on immigration but the substance of his policies, GOP insiders say.
Even as Trump continues to alienate Speaker Nancy Pelosi with his taunts and slights, his latest proposal demonstrates a new willingness to give ground on major areas of immigration policy.
In three areas – the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Temporary Protected Status program, and asylum for children in Central America – Trump had previously reversed Obama programs. On Saturday, he tamped down his negative rhetoric on immigrants while offering to reprise those programs – at least temporarily—and sign them into law, something Obama tried and failed to get from Congress during his tenure. ...
For taking on serious political risk when past Congresses and presidents have taken a pass on immigration, the president has earned the respect of influential Republicans.
