Thread: Trump Ends DACA Program, No New Applications Accepted

BREAKING POLITICS SEP 5 2017, 12:30 PM ET
Trump Ends DACA Program, No New Applications Accepted
by ADAM EDELMAN
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The Justice Department announced on Tuesday it is ending DACA, while also giving Congress a six-month window to possibly save the Obama-era program that allowed undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to remain in the country.

Under the plan announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Trump administration will stop considering new applications for legal status dated after Tuesday, but will allow any DACA recipients with a permit set to expire before March 5, 2018, the opportunity to apply for a two-year renewal.

Trump, in a lengthy statement put out after Sessions' remarks, said it was "in the best interests of our country" to "begin an orderly transition and wind-down of DACA, one that provides minimum disruption."

"In effect," the president said, "I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act."

"We will resolve the DACA issue with heart and compassion — but through the lawful democratic process — while at the same time ensuring that any immigration reform we adopt provides enduring benefits for the American citizens we were elected to serve," Trump said.

Trump also said he’d advised the Department of Homeland Security "that DACA recipients are not enforcement priorities unless they are criminals, are involved in criminal activity, or are members of a gang."

Meanwhile, Sessions repeatedly referred to DACA as unconstitutional and criticized it as "unilateral executive amnesty." He said it "yielded terrible humanitarian consequences" and had "denied jobs to hundreds of thousands of Americans by allowing those same jobs to go to illegal aliens."

"We are a people of compassion and we are a people of law. But there is nothing compassionate about the failure to enforce immigration laws," Sessions said.

"The compassionate thing is to end the lawlessness, enforce our laws, and, if Congress chooses to make changes to those laws, to do so through the process set forth by our Founders in a way that advances the interest of the nation," he continued.



The decision could affect as many as 800,000 Dreamers who have signed up for the program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, since its 2012 inception. Immigrant rights advocates have said 200,000 more have sought DACA status since Donald Trump became president.

Trump’s decision signals he’s moving full-steam ahead with his hardline immigration campaign promises — despite multiple walk-backs from him on the issue of DACA — and came on the same day that Republican officials from 10 states had set as a deadline for the administration to end the program.

Those officials had said they would sue the administration over DACA if Trump hadn’t ended it by Sept. 5. Led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the group said the government should stop accepting DACA renewal applications, allowing those now in effect to continue until their two-year period expires.

Signaling quick action, the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that it had already begun moving ahead with an "orderly wind down of the program," issuing a memo formally rescinding the Obama memo that had created it.

"The Department of Justice has carefully evaluated the program’s Constitutionality and determined it conflicts with our existing immigration laws," Acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke said.

Duke said that the option chosen by Sessions would "limit disruption to current DACA beneficiaries while providing time for Congress to seek a legislative solution."

Trump, for his part, appeared to pressure Congress to do just that in an early-morning Tweet Tuesday.

"Congress, get ready to do your job - DACA!" he posted ahead of Sessions’ announcement, as lawmakers were returning after their August break.

Trump's decision set off protests across the U.S., including outside Trump Tower in New York and the White House, as well as a storm of criticism from Democrats and calls from Republicans for Congress to take action.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed that "Democrats will do everything we can to prevent President Trump's terribly wrong order from becoming reality," while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., ripped Trump’s decision as a "deeply shameful act of political cowardice and a despicable assault on innocent young people in communities across America."



Several prominent Republicans expressed support for the administration’s legal rationale for rescinding DACA, but also signaled they wanted to see the program continue in some form through congressional action.

House Speaker, R-Wis., who last week urged Trump last week to keep the program and allow Congress to fix it, criticized DACA on Tuesday, calling it "an attempt to create law out of thin air."

"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," Ryan said.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., tweeted that, "The ball is back in Congress’ court where it belongs, and there are a lot of innocent kids counting on Congress to do its job."

President Barack Obama created DACA through an executive order in 2012 for people without serious criminal histories who were younger than 16 when they came to the United States before 2007.

The program allows eligible young people to seek DACA protection for renewable two-year periods. Applicants can file when they turn 15, and immigration experts say the program could end up covering 1.3 million young people if it were allowed to continue. Requests for renewals are now being filed at the rate of about 8,000 a week.

Trump, who as recently as Friday had said, "We love dreamers, we love everybody ... the Dreamers are terrific," remained in meetings at the White House on Tuesday, while Sessions made the announcement Tuesday about DACA’s future.

When asked about DACA during his confirmation hearing in January, Sessions said, "it would certainly be constitutional, I believe, to end that order" and that he "would have no objection to a decision to abandon that order."

In April, he said, "We can't promise people who are here unlawfully that they're not going to be deported."

Trump, on the other hand, had been all over the map on the topic.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump said he would cancel DACA, vowing to "immediately terminate" the policy.

And in an August 2015 interview with NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press," Trump said DACA recipients "have to go."

But in late April 2017 he sent a different message, telling The Associated Press that young people covered by the program could "rest easy" because his administration was “not after the Dreamers, we are after the criminals."

"This is a case of heart," he said.

ADAM EDELMAN

Https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...cement-n798686

Trump hates Mexicans.

Nearly three-quarters of the DACA recipients were Mexican.



Here Are All the Times Donald Trump Insulted Mexico
Katie Reilly
Aug 31, 2016

Donald Trump kicked off his presidential bid more than a year ago with harsh words for Mexico. "They are not our friend, believe me," he said, before disparaging Mexican immigrants: "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

In the months since, he has repeatedly promised to build a wall along the Mexican border and get Mexico to pay for it. He is now scheduled to meet with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Wednesday, hours before a speech that will aim to clarify his position on immigration, which appeared to soften in remarks he made last week.

Here's what Trump has said about Mexico and Mexicans, before and during his presidential campaign:

Sadly, the overwhelming amount of violent crime in our major cities is committed by blacks and hispanics-a tough subject-must be discussed.
3:05 PM - Jun 5, 2013

When will the U.S. stop sending $'s to our enemies, i.e. Mexico and others.
2:24 AM - Jul 11, 2014

The Mexican legal system is corrupt, as is much of Mexico. Pay me the money that is owed me now - and stop sending criminals over our border
7:47 AM - Feb 25, 2015 · Manhattan, NY

Mexico's court system corrupt.I want nothing to do with Mexico other than to build an impenetrable WALL and stop them from ripping off U.S.
7:50 AM - Mar 6, 2015

The border is wide open for cartels & terrorists. Secure our border now. Build a massive wall & deduct the costs from Mexican foreign aid!
3:47 AM - Mar 31, 2015

June 16, 2015
"When do we beat Mexico at the border? They’re laughing at us, at our stupidity," Trump said as he announced his candidacy on June 16, 2015. "And now they are beating us economically. They are not our friend, believe me. But they’re killing us economically. The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems."

"When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best," he said in the same speech. "They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."

Mexican gov doesn't want me talking about terrible border situation & horrible trade deals. Forcing Univision to get me to stop- no way!
9:26 PM - Jun 25, 2015

I love the Mexican people, but Mexico is not our friend. They're killing us at the border and they're killing us on jobs and trade. FIGHT!
7:57 PM - Jun 30, 2015

Mexican leaders and negotiators are much tougher and smarter than those of the U.S. Mexico is killing us on jobs and trade. WAKE UP!
6:09 PM - Jul 3, 2015

El Chapo and the Mexican drug cartels use the border unimpeded like it was a vacuum cleaner, sucking drugs and death right into the U.S.
5:47 PM - Jul 13, 2015

Feb. 25, 2016
Trump feuded with former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who compared the Republican presidential candidate to Hitler and said, "I’m not going to pay for that f–king wall."

FMR PRES of Mexico, Vicente Fox horribly used the F word when discussing the wall. He must apologize! If I did that there would be a uproar!
3:27 AM - Feb 26, 2016

Fox later apologized, which Trump said was "very, very nice."

“Vicente Fox was on television last night and he apologized, and I accept his apology. I tell you I thought it was very nice," Trump said at a rally in West Virginia on May 5. "Honestly, I thought it was very, very nice, because I was giving him a little hard time about something, and he apologized.”

March 1, 2016
"You look at countries like Mexico, where they’re killing us on the border, absolutely destroying us on the border. They’re destroying us in terms of economic development," Trump said on March 1 during his Super Tuesday victory speech.

"Mexico is going to pay for the wall," Trump added during a press conference. "We have a trade deficit with Mexico of $58 billion a year — $58 billion. The wall is going to cost $10 billion. It’s so easy. I’ve had these guys that I’m on the stage with go you don’t really mean Mexico is going to pay for the wall. One — as sure as you’re standing there, 100 percent, Mexico’s going to pay, 100 percent."

Everybody is talking about the protesters burning the American flags and proudly waving Mexican flags. I want America First - so do voters!
9:06 PM - May 2, 2016

Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics! https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump...008375200725:0 …
1:57 AM - May 6, 2016

May 27, 2016
“I think the Mexicans are going to end up loving Donald Trump,” he said at a rally in San Diego on May 27.

June 3, 2016
"I’ve been treated very unfairly by this judge. Now, this judge is of Mexican heritage. I'm building a wall, OK? I'm building a wall. I am going to do very well with the Hispanics, the Mexicans," Trump said in an interview with CNN on June 3, explaining his attacks on the judge presiding over the Trump University lawsuit.

"I think I'm going to do very well with Hispanics. But we're building a wall. He's a Mexican. We're building a wall between here and Mexico," Trump said later in the interview, speaking of U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was born in Indiana to Mexican immigrant parents. "This judge is giving us unfair rulings. Now I say why. Well, I want to -- I'm building a wall, OK? And it's a wall between Mexico, not another country."

Aug. 9, 2016
"Businesses are leaving our country like they’ve never left before. They’re going all over. They’re going to Mexico, that I can tell you. Mexico is like the eighth wonder of the world," Trump said on Aug. 9.

Donald Trump: All the Times He's Insulted Mexico | Time.com

Originally Posted by Grampa

800,000 young teens and adults paid billions in taxes?

You should check that source.

A total of 1.3 million young undocumented immigrants who are enrolled or eligible for DACA contribute $2 billion a year in taxes, state and local, according to the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that provides timely, in-depth analyses on the effects of federal, state, and local tax policies. ITEP’s mission is to ensure the nation has a fair and sustainable tax system that raises enough revenue to fund our common priorities, including education, health care, infrastructure and public safety.

$2 billion comes out to about $1500/year per person...sounds about right.