President Trump on Sept. 5 “ordered an end to the Obama-era program that shields young undocumented immigrants from deportation, calling it an ‘amnesty-first approach’ and urging Congress to pass a replacement before he begins phasing out its protections in six months,” the New York Times reported.
“As early as March, officials said, some of the 800,000 young adults brought to the United States illegally as children who qualify for the program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, will become eligible for deportation. The five-year-old policy allows them to remain without fear of immediate removal from the country and gives them the right to work legally,” the newspaper reported.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, “a longtime opponent of the policy, made the formal announcement Tuesday morning” NPR reported.
Trump’s decision “decision to end an Obama-era policy protecting undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children has sparked immediate blowback in Silicon Valley, where the industry’s two most valuable companies—Apple and Alphabet—were both co-founded by the children of immigrants, and where foreign talent has helped turn the Bay Area into the greatest wealth-generation machine in the world”(Vanity Fair, Sept. 5).
Obama weighs in
Former President Barack Obama posted a statement on Facebook saying that to “target these young people is wrong – because they have done nothing wrong. It is self-defeating – because they want to start new businesses, staff our labs, serve in our military, and otherwise contribute to the country we love. And it is cruel. What if our kid’s science teacher, or our friendly neighbor turns out to be a Dreamer? Where are we supposed to send her? To a country she doesn’t know or remember, with a language she may not even speak?”
Protests occurred throughout the country on Sept. 5 in the wake of the news.
Washington, D.C.
“‘We are America’: DACA recipients, supporters say they are not going anywhere” (Washington Post, Sept. 5)
New York City
“Dozens arrested at DACA protest at Trump Tower” (ABC News, Sept. 5)
San Francisco
“Protesters Rally in SF Against Trump’s DACA Decision” (NBC News, Sept. 5)
Congressional reaction
While Trump has decided to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, at the same time he gave Congress a six-month window to provide a legislative fix for DACA.
It’s too early to say whether Congress can get a bill across the legislative finish line in half a year, but here are some early reactions from key lawmakers:
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., House minority leader: “The President’s cruel and heartless decision to start deporting DREAMers in six months demands an immediate response from the Republican Congress. Speaker Ryan and the Republican House leadership must bring the DREAM Act to the floor for a vote without delay.”
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill.: “I personally will not support any funding bill that does not include a safe harbor for DREAMers – and I will work to have others join me in opposition. If they need our votes, we are bringing 800,000 young immigrants with us. I have already spoken with Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and will be talking to other Democrats in the House, but if Republicans need our votes, we need to have legislation to protect immigrant youth who have DACA.”
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Speaker of the House: “The president’s announcement does not revoke permits immediately, and it is important that those affected have clarity on how this interim period will be carried out. At the heart of this issue are young people who came to this country through no fault of their own, and for many of them it’s the only country they know. Their status is one of many immigration issues, such as border security and interior enforcement, which Congress has failed to adequately address over the years. It is my hope that the House and Senate, with the president’s leadership, will be able to find consensus on a permanent legislative solution that includes ensuring that those who have done nothing wrong can still contribute as a valued part of this great country.”
Groups react
Immigration and other groups with a stake in the immigration debate weighed in on Trump’s decision.
Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum: “Republicans in Congress now have a huge opportunity. They can get credit for providing a permanent legislative solution for Dreamers. They can draw on the support of local and national evangelical leaders, conservatives in their own party and hundreds of CEOs — as well as 73 percent of Trump voters. Or, Republicans in Congress and the administration will share the credit for the anguish that begins now and will only increase with each passing day. We must not deport these young immigrants and the American promise they and their families represent. That’s not who we are.”
On its website, LULAC urged supporters of DACA to “tell the Trump administration and Congress to #DefendDACA!” via social media or email. LULAC staff attended a protest in front of the White House on Sept. 5.
Lorella Praeli, director of immigration policy and campaigns at the American Civil Liberties Union: “Today is a cruel day for Dreamers, our families, and all Americans. President Trump’s decision to end DACA is a manufactured crisis in response to an artificial deadline from anti-immigrant leaders. There is no humane way to end DACA before having a permanent legislative fix in place.”
The Immigration and Refugee News Digest 