President Trump last week ordered an end to DACA, the Obama-era program that shields young undocumented immigrants from deportation. He urged Congress to pass a replacement before he begins phasing out its protections in six months.
President Trump announced last week that he would rescind the Obama-era program that protects 800,000 younger undocumented immigrants from deportation.
During his presidential campaign, President Trump said that he would “immediately terminate” the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, when he assumed office. The program, however, has continued to be in place since the president’s inauguration in January.
In the announcement last week, the Trump administration said that DACA would be “sunsetted” in six months, to allow time for Congress to pass legislation to create a legal framework for the issue and to provide an “orderly transition” that “provides minimum disruption.”
The Department of Homeland Security has received more than 100,000 pending applications for initial and renewed benefits, according to recent data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Although there have been several proposals to establish DACA in law, there is no indication that any of various legislative proposals would be progressing anytime soon. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not mention DACA among his legislative priorities when the Senate gaveled into session after the congressional August recess.
According to a story in Fast Company:
- Nearly 790,000 of DACA recipients have received work permits and deportation relief since it was enacted in 2012.
- By far, California received the highest number of initial DACA applications at 223,000. Texas, New York, Illinois, and Florida rounded out the top five states.
- 95 percent of DACA recipients are working or in school, according to a 2016 survey.
