House Democrat caves, says he will support border wall to get DACA deal passed

House Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) explained over the weekend that he is willing to compromise in order to re-open the government and pass a deal for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

What did he say?

Gutierrez explained on ABC News' "This Week" Sunday that he believes President Donald Trump's proposed border wall on the southern U.S. border with Mexico is a "monumental waste" of taxpayer dollars, but said he would support the project if it meant securing a DACA deal.

"Look, I think the wall is a monumental waste of taxpayers' money, and it’s to build a monument to stupidity," Gutierrez said. "It's just idiotic."

"Having said that, if that’s what it's going to take in order to put 800,000 young men and women in this country — Dreamers — and put them in a safe place, and put them on a course to full integration in our society...I say pay it," he added.

The Illinois Democrat further likened recipients of the DACA program, known as "Dreamers," to hostages of the GOP and the border wall as the ransom.

"If that’s what the hostage takers of the Dreamers, if that’s their ransom call, I say pay it. And then next November, we’ll deal with the kidnappers at the election and the polls,” Gutierrez explained.

Gutierrez went on to call the wall "hurtful" and "despicable," but said he and other Democrats "are ready to sacrifice that so that Dreamers can have freedom in this country."

.@RepGutierrez tells @GStephanopoulos if it takes funding President Trump’s border wall to get protections for Dreamers, “I say pay it.” #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/PH44M4C2kB

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 21, 2018

What else has he said?

Speaking on CNN Saturday, Gutierrez explained he is willing to compromise on the wall in order to secure a DACA deal and a future for undocumented young people.

"If that is what it is going to take to get 800,000 young men and women and give them a chance to live freely and openly in America, then I'll roll up my sleeves, I'll go down there with bricks and mortar and begin the wall," he said.

The congressman further reiterated this on Twitter: