Senate rejects Trump-backed immigration bill

WASHINGTON—The Senate on Thursday voted down an immigration bill backed by President Donald Trump, leaving the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program uncertain. Lawmakers voted on four immigration proposals in succession, saving for last legislation from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. Only 39 senators voted to end debate on the bill, effectively killing its progress. The legislation would have provided a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and other young immigrants after 10-12 years. It also would have provided a $25 billion investment in border security and cut down the number of total legal immigrants permitted into the United States each year. Minutes earlier, three other immigration bills failed to reach the 60-vote threshold to advance. They included a bipartisan compromise plan from Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). That plan had eight Republican sponsors, but the White House denounced the legislation strongly. The bill failed with a vote of 54-45. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Senate would end debate on immigration after this week and move on to other business. Thursday marked the first time the body voted on any immigration proposal in what was promised to be a free-wheeling debate process. The White House has pledged to end the legal status of DACA participants on March 5. There are no more votes planned in the Senate this week.