Sessions Addresses DACA Decision, Affecting 800K Dreamers
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WASHINGTON (CBSMiami) – President Trump has decided to end a program which shielded an estimated 800,000 people from deportation if they were brought to America illegally as children.
The program allowed undocumented immigrants brought to America as children to stay and work legally.
"The Department of Homeland Security should begin an orderly, lawful wind down, including the cancellation of the memo that authorized this program," said U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
An estimated 800,000 DACA recipients are given work permits which last for two years.
The administration will phase out the program by allowing current permits to expire.
Requests for new permits which have already been submitted will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
"It also denied jobs to hundreds of thousands of Americans by allowing those same illegal aliens to take those jobs," Sessions said.
Protestors demonstrated against the president's decision outside the white house.
"For many months he has been telling us, 'I love the dreamers.' You remember that? He told us, 'I have a big heart for the dreamers.' He's a liar," said Gustavo Torres, Executive Director of CASA.
President Obama implemented DACA five years ago with an executive action but the Trump administration argued the program is unconstitutional and the president is pushing congress for legislation.
The president tweeted this morning: "Congress, get ready to do your job - DACA!"
House speaker Paul Ryan has said something needs to be done for DACA recipients...and eighteen republicans have co-sponsored a bill from Florida rep. Carlos Curbelo that would make a version of DACA permanent.
But other republicans are considering tying a DACA fix with funding for President Trump's border wall, something that would jeopardize democratic support.
Speaker Ryan said Tuesday that he hopes the House and Senate can find a consensus for a permanent legislative solution to the DACA problem.
