Republicans invented this tactic. Their hypocrisy in complaining about its use is breathtaking.
Where is the great dealmaker who promised to put an end to dysfunction in Washington? His inability to articulate and stick to positions on immigration issues is a big part of the problem.
There are really three issues for the Democrats: (a) Is DACA an appropriate issue to use as the basis for a shutdown? (b) Will they be punished for it politically? (c) Will the shutdown increase or decrease the chances of making a deal? My responses would be: (a) DACA is a simple, easily-understood, and important issue with moral overtones and bipartisan support, so yes; (b) Trump is the center of attention to such an extent that he is likely to get the credit or the blame for just about anything; and (c) I don’t know if this will help, but I do know that everything else has failed thus far, and that Trump doesn’t respect people who don’t stand up to him, so it is worth trying.