GOP congressman says he can get the votes to save DACA

As Trump plans to make his announcement on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, better known as DACA, one Republican congressman has a backup plan for the federal program that protects undocumented immigrants who arrived to the U.S. as children from deportation.

Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado announced on Twitter Thursday night that if Trump cancels DACA, he will force a vote on the Bridge Act — a bill that would extend DACA protections for another three years — as soon as Congress is back in session on September 5.

Read more: Dreamers are plotting how to fight back if Trump kills DACA

“This is a very important program to protect,” Coffman said in an interview with VICE News Friday.

Coffman vows he will immediately file a “discharge petition” for the Bridge Act — an obscure procedure traditionally used by the minority party to force a bill to the floor. Once the petition is filed, 218 member signatures are required get a vote on the bill. Coffman would need to convince 23 other Republicans, in addition to all 194 Democrats, to sign. So far the bill has 12 Republican co-sponsors.

“As long as the Democrats hold firm, there will be enough Republicans to pass it,” Coffman said. “I really feel confident in that.”

Coffman got an assist Friday from House Speaker Paul Ryan, who urged Trump not to tear up the program. “This is something Congress has to fix,” he said on a radio program in his hometown Janesville, Wisconsin.

The Bridge Act, with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, was the first bill to be introduced in Congress in January. Immigration advocacy groups, including The New York Immigration Coalition and The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, support the bill.

While Coffman is a fan of the DACA protections for immigrants, he thinks the way Obama enacted the program through executive order is unconstitutional, and he hopes passing a law will ease Republican concerns, including the President’s. Coffman gave courtesy calls to Republican leadership Friday morning warning of his plans to force a vote.

“I hope [Trump] says Congress has to pass a bill and I’ll sign it,” Coffman said. “I’m not asking permission to do this. This is what I’m planning on doing.”