Trump knocks down bipartisan 'Dreamers' proposal, calling it a 'total waste of time'

A bipartisan immigration proposal surfaced Monday in the U.S. Senate, only to be quickly knocked down by President Donald Trump via Twitter.

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said they were proposing legislation that would provide a pathway tolegal status potentially including citizenship for immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally as children, known as "Dreamers."

"March5this rapidly approaching and theDemsseem not to care aboutDACA. Make a deal!" Trump tweeted.

'Most divisive and difficult' of proposals

Trump has proposed offering a route to citizenship for up to 1.8million young immigrants. He would also limit legal immigration by reducing the relatives they can sponsor for citizenship andeliminating a lottery that provides visas to people from diverseplaces, including Africa.

In a conference call with reporters, Coons said tackling a wider bill has "gotten more politically complicated" because of Trump's"unconstructive engagement on immigration." Coons said he wasreferring to Trump comments at a White House meeting last month at which he used a vulgarity to described African nations.

Coons said Trump's push to limit legal immigration based onfamilies is the "most divisive and difficult" of his proposals.

A road to legal status, proponents say

Coons said he believed his plan with McCain would protectaround 1.8 million to 2 million young immigrants. It would create a road to legal status for "Dreamers" who arrived in the U.S. by the end of 2013 and meet other criteria, including no convictions for serious crimes.

Once they've become lawful permanent residents, they can follow existing procedures to apply for citizenship.

It was being unveiled days before the Senate plans to begin debating immigration legislation, a battle that faces an uncertainoutcome in a politically polarized climate. It remains unclear whatmeasure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will use tocommence debate and what amendments will be offered.

Coons said his bipartisan plan could serve as a starting point and was open to adding border security money. McCain has been inArizona being treated for cancer and was not on the conference call.

Trump said last September that he was ending the DACA program, complaining that Obama had overstepped his legal authority increating it.

Narrow bill may be likeliest outcome

Democrats and some Republicans want to give "Dreamers" a pathway to citizenship, but oppose cuts Trump wouldtake to the number of legal immigrants allowed to enter the U.S.

Conservatives oppose letting "Dreamers" become citizens.

That stalemate has led many to believe the likeliest outcome is a narrowly focused bill or even no legislation at all. Some senatorshave discussed a potential compromise extending DACA protections andfinancing border security for one year.

The senators' proposal is similar to a bipartisan House package by Reps. Will Hurd, R-Texas, and Pete Aguilar, D-Calif.