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.
With a government shutdown five days away, Congress is moving into crisis mode as Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces an insurgency from hard-right Republicans eager to slash spending even if it means curtailing federal services for millions of Americans.
Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey announced on Saturday that he will run against Sen. Robert Menendez in the state’s Democratic primary for Senate next year, saying he feels compelled to run against the three-term senator after he and his wife were indicted on sweeping corruption charges.