Attorney General Jeff Sessions this morning announced President Trump’s plan to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA. The program impacts around 800-thousand undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Carelton College political analyst Steven Schier says “it’s a difficult situation for Trump because his base wants immigration restriction, yet this is, according to the polls, a popular program, it covers a large number of young people who grew up as Americans.” The Obama-ordered program will be phased out with a six-month delay in order to give Congress time to act. Trump this morning sent out a tweet calling on Congress to get ready to do its job with DACA.
Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman, Jennifer Carnahan in a statement says:
“The President’s actions on DACA are reasonable, humane and ensure we are a nation of laws, not merely executive actions. The U.S. Constitution is clear on the subject. In Article 1, Section 8, Congress — not the President or Judicial Branch — is given the power to “establish a uniform rule of naturalization.” President Obama’s implementation of DACA was unconstitutional, and instead of putting an immediate end to the program, President Trump rightly provided Congress the time to fashion a legislative solution to the issue. Unlike President Obama, President Trump is following the rule of law.”