Hard-liners on DACA may be too hard-hearted for Trump

Ruben Navarrette Jr. on Sep 17, 2017

Nobody puts Donny in a corner.

The restrictionists on the right-wing wasted no time blasting Trump as "Amnesty Don." Even the nativist writer Ann Coulter, a stalwart Trumpista, appeared to call for his impeachment, while Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, insisted that any deal would destroy Trump's GOP base.

So, in what may have been an attempt to calm his critics, Trump tweeted Friday that he would not support "chain migration" -- which means he opposes the emphasis on family reunification that has guided immigration policy for the last five decades.

What Trump does seem more committed to than ever before is helping Congress find a way to allow the Dreamers to stay in the United States. As he tweeted Thursday, while taking fire from conservatives: "Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? Really!"

He added: "They have been in our country for many years through no fault of their own -- brought in by parents at young age."

We can't be sure what was said in private over dinner. But, at this point, it doesn't matter. The drama has moved into the open, and the politics are shaking out in very interesting ways.

Trump might well wind up being pushed to the center on immigration, at least regarding the Dreamers. He may decide that the hard-liners are too hard-hearted for him, and end up doing more deals with his old friends "Chuck" and "Nancy."

That would leave Republican leaders out in the cold and inflame Trump's supporters.

But on the positive side, what a great season this could turn out to be. The ratings would be yyyuge.

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com.