Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has been looking for an immigration fix for years. But he doesn’t see one in Texas’ efforts to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama-era program that offers temporary status to hundreds of thousands of unauthorized immigrants.

“I honestly don’t understand what the state is asking for” in filing a lawsuit to stop the program, Cornyn said Friday in Dallas. “Right now, the issue looks like it’s going all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. They’re gonna decide whether DACA can be ended.”

In September, President Donald Trump moved to end DACA, prompting several legal challenges that are moving forward. Cornyn believes that Trump’s actions will be upheld, which will make it more urgent for Congress to act -- no matter what happens with Texas’ lawsuit.

“I’m not sure what else this does,” Cornyn, who serves as the Senate majority whip, said about the suit. “It’s not a solution.”

On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit to end DACA, which was joined by six other states. He noted that Texas led a successful challenge to a similar program known as DAPA, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents.

“Our lawsuit is about the rule of law, not the wisdom of any particular immigration policy,” Paxton said.

Cornyn made his remarks after addressing about 250 people at a luncheon for the Dallas Regional Chamber. He discussed trade, NAFTA and Trump, saying it was difficult to know what was theater in the current administration.

Cornyn, a former Texas AG, said he’d immersed himself in the immigration issue and just couldn't get lawmakers to the finish line. Yes, we need border security, he said, and the rule of law.

“But there is a role for compassion and for pragmatism,” Cornyn told the audience.

Dreamers were brought to the U.S. by their parents, who were not authorized to live here. The kids grew up and finished school, and the vast majority have landed jobs, including in the military and public education.

They should not be punished for their status, he said, and most conservative Republicans want them to remain in the country, polls show.

“In America, we don’t hold children responsible for the mistakes their parents made,” Cornyn said.

In February, a bill that would have protected the Dreamers failed to get through the Senate. A key sticking point was the proposed funding for a border wall, a Trump priority.

Cornyn called that a missed opportunity, both for DACA recipients and the economy.

“We need the talent,” Cornyn said, “and this is a pool of very productive, good young people.”

In 2015, over 226,000 Texans were eligible for DACA, second only to California, according to New American Economy, a bipartisan pro-immigration group. Those Texas Dreamers paid $259 million in state and local taxes.

In the Dallas metro area, over 63,000 are eligible for DACA, and over 93 percent are working. Their combined household income was nearly $860 million in 2016, and they paid $72 million in state and local taxes.

Businesses are strong supporters of DACA, both for cultural and practical reasons. They want to be known as welcoming and inclusive workplaces, and they need a growing educated workforce -- the more diverse, the better.

Over 800 executives signed a letter urging Congress to find a permanent solution for DACA. Why is immigration reform so hard?

Cornyn offered an explanation, which also helps explain Paxton’s lawsuit.

“There’s a saying in Washington, D.C., that some people want a solution while others want an issue they can use for the next election,” Cornyn said.