Upton: Trump’s slur a ‘setback’ for immigration reform

President Donald Trump dimmed the chances of a bipartisan deal on immigration reform when he reportedly bashed Haiti and African countries last week, Republican U.S. Rep. Fred Upton said Tuesday, calling the president’s comments “embarrassing” and “uncalled for.” “It’s a setback,” Upton said Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The uproar continued Tuesday with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen telling the Senate Judiciary Committee that she couldn’t remember the president using the word “-----hole” to describe those countries in a closed-door meeting with Democratic and GOP lawmakers. Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey criticized Nielsen’s memory, saying Trump’s language can give license to bigotry and hate. Upton, Dave Trott of Birmingham and Tim Walberg of Tipton are among the Michigan GOP lawmakers who also want to reinstate CHIP funding, as do Democratic lawmakers including Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Lansing and Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Southfield.