Republicans and Democrats Reach Budget Agreement Without Dream Act – After intense negotiations aiming to avoid a government shutdown, Republican and Democratic leaders in Washington reached a two-year budget agreement that includes increased defense spending and support for domestic programs. Following a brief shutdown, the bill was approved in both chambers and signed by President Trump, amid opposition voiced by fiscal conservatives and progressive Democrats, who are disappointed at the outcome: only a promise to begin a debate on DACA next week. José López Zamorano has the details from Washington.
Democrats and Republicans Discuss Controversial Memo Questioning Russia Investigation – As special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation of collusion between the Trump team and Russia to interfere in the 2016 elections reaches the president’s inner circle, Republican Congressman Devin Nunes made public a controversial memo accusing the FBI of abusing its power and questioning the probe. Democrats have prepared their own document suggesting the need to fill in gaps with information left out by Republicans. Present to discuss these issues on Radio Bilingüe’s Línea Abierta are Republican Gonzalo Ferrer, president of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, and DNC spokesperson Francisco Pelayo.
Deported Mexican Returns and Obtains Residency – During the first year of the Trump presidency, there were increasing deportations of immigrants that had lived in the United States for decades, lacked criminal records and had children that are U.S. citizens. This reality is even more palpable in Texas, a state that approved but has not yet enacted the harshest laws on deporting the undocumented. Despite this, a Mexican immigrant with permission to work in the United States who was deported five years ago was able to return and be reunited with his family. How did he do it? Joy Diaz reports from Austin, Texas, with the details of this unusual story of family reunification.
