A Democratic congressman who represents a Texas district bordering Mexico says in a new interview that "a miracle" is needed to pass legislation this year to protect young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) told The Houston Chronicle, however, that he does not see Congress passing new legislation this year to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

"We're trying to put as much leverage on Republicans as we can, but they are saying early next year. I was hoping we could do it by the end of the year and maybe a miracle will happen, but I don't see it right now," Cuellar told the newspaper.

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"I hate to put it so cold, but do you shut down the government for 800,000 people at the expense of 320 million Americans? That's really what you're looking at."

President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE in September said he would rescind the Obama-era DACA program, which protected certain young immigrants from deportation, but provided Congress with six months to pursue a legislative replacement.

Democratic lawmakers have pushed for a fix to DACA to be included in an end-of-the-year spending bill, a prospect that Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE (R-Wis.) said last month is not on the table.

Rep. Joaquin Castro Joaquin CastroFlorida Democrat asks FBI to investigate anti-Semitic, racist disinformation Hispanic Caucus members embark on 'virtual bus tour' with Biden campaign Hispanic caucus report takes stock of accomplishments with eye toward 2021 MORE, another Texas Democrat, told the Chronicle that an immigration bill has the most viability this year.

"Once the Congress gets beyond that, it will become harder to leverage support for DACA into successful legislation," Castro said.