The Immigration Debate Heats Up While President Trump Meets With Global Leaders in Davos
President Trump is in Switzerland today meeting some of the world's biggest leaders at the World Economic Forum. He is bringing a large contingent of American officials, but one who didn't end up making the trip is White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. The White House says Kelly stayed behind to help work on immigration reform.
Todd Johnson, Managing Editor at The Grio, says he thinks it's a bad sign that Kelly isn't in Davos. Without Kelly, Johnson says there is no one moderating what the president says and does.
Back in Washington, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is expected to propose new immigration legislation. His bill would expand the number of H1-B visas available for skilled immigrants. President Trump has been a vocal opponent of the H1-B visa program. Johnson says he doesn't see the president getting on board with Senator Hatch's plan without funding for his border wall.
The Biden Administration has officially extended a ban on a Trump-era policy that prohibits traveling with a U.S. passport to North Korea. The extension is expected to last until August 2022. The ban was initially enforced after the death of Otto Warmbier, who entered a vegetative state while in North Korean custody. Advocates against the ban argue that it has caused crippling impacts on Korean Americans who have not been able to reunite with their families back home. Senior Fellow at The Foundation For Defense of Democracies Anthony Ruggiero joined Cheddar's News Wrap to discuss more.
There has been a series of violent attacks in Afghanistan in the past week as U.S. troops withdrawal deadline approaches. The evacuation effort is winding down with 1,200 people evacuated in the last 24 hours, compared to last week's 24-hour span high of 21,000, and it is reported that there are around 250 people still waiting to be airlifted.
Dan Lamothe, national security reporter at The Washington Post, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss more on what is going to happen when all evacuation and withdrawal missions are completed.
Futures pointed to a slightly higher open on the heels of Fed Chair Jerome Powell saying the central bank is on track to taper its asset purchases later this year. Milton Ezrati, Chief Economist at Vested joined Wake Up with Cheddar to discuss.
