Strike deal on Dreamers

Columbus Dispatch: It’s depressing — but also fitting — that the new Congress has come to town in the midst of another government shutdown. For the moment President Donald Trump sees tactical advantage in extending his dispute with Congress over funding his “wall.” Most of the country would be grateful if he and the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives came to terms and let the government get back to doing its job.

A deal of the kind recently floated by Sen. Lindsey Graham ought to be possible: Allow the administration additional funding for border security while extending protections for so-called Dreamers (young people brought illegally to the U.S. as children) as well as for several hundred thousand holders of temporary protected status. This would afford both sides a partial win.

Problem is compromise requires that both sides get something. And the only alternative to compromise, now that power in Washington is more equally divided, is paralysis.

Washington should strike a deal on Dreamers and border security. If Trump calls it a win, fine. Voters won’t be fooled, and $5 billion or so for a wall that doesn’t work and isn’t even a wall would be a price worth paying for securing the Dreamers’ future.