How can the Democrats justify closing down the government for the sake of 800,000 illegal immigrants?

Have the Democrats lost their minds? Isn't this a case of the tail wagging the dog? Who comes first: 300 million people or 800,000 [i]illegal[/i] immigrants.

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BlueMetalChick · 26-30, F

The democrats shut down the government? But the democrats don't control the presidency, the house, the senate, the supreme court, or the majority of governorships. Even if they wanted to shut down the government, they couldn't.

istillhaveanameitsrick · 56-60, M

@BlueMetalChick The republicans attempted to pass a stopgap measure which would have kept the government open until mid-February however it required a 3/5ths majority, the republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate and needed 60 votes, 45 republicans voted in favor and 42 democrats voted against (including the two so-called independents) so the measure failed. The vote basically went along party lines and the democrats had enough votes to block the measure...so the democrats were responsible for shutting down the government.

lovelywarpedlemon

It's not just democrats... It's both sides refusing to compromise. There is inequality, not a balance of power. This is a democracy, not a dictatorship.

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

This isn't about the 800k. Nobody actually wants them to leave. Trump as much as said so, and the white house has always signaled accordingly.

[quote]Keep in mind, these are people aged 16-36 with work permits, which means they do not have any criminal background. They're here being productive to our country[/quote]

-Trump's own legislative director, earlier today.

The status of the dreamers is primarily a bargaining chip, that's all. So let's rephrase it this...

How can the Republicans justify closing down the government for the sake of keeping a small bit of political leverage over their opponents, despite their overwhelming control of the legislature and the executive?