GOP lawmakers urge Trump to keep protections for 'Dreamers'

GOP lawmakers urge Trump to keep protections for 'Dreamers'

08/24/17 06:35 PM EDT

http://thehill.com/sites/default/fil...?itok=49n8pR7b

A group of mostly centrist House Republicans is urging President Trump to keep protections in place for young immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

In a letter made public Thursday, a half-dozen GOP lawmakers encouraged Trump to focus his immigration enforcement policies on criminals and leave the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in place until Congress can pass immigration reform.

"Children brought to the United States at a young age did not have a choice in the matter," the lawmakers wrote. "Such cases require careful and thoughtful analysis about what is in the best interests of our country."

"We strongly support your commitment to deporting those who have broken our laws, and we believe the resources that might be directed towards targeting those with DACA status would be better spent on targeting criminals."

Trump faces a September deadline to make his position clear on the Obama-era program, which grants temporary work permits to certain qualifying undocumented immigrants.

An ultimatum issued by 10 state attorneys general threatening to challenge DACA demands the Trump administration to decide by Sept. 5 whether to rescind the program or defend it in court.

The letter released Thursday was signed by Reps. Dan Donovan (N.Y.), Carlos Curbelo (Fla.), David Valadao (Calif.), Jeff Denham (Calif.), Don Bacon (Neb.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.).

Bacon was the only signatory on the letter whose state is threatening to challenge DACA in court.

The lawmakers pointed to a bill introduced by Curbelo, the Recognizing America's Children Act, as a possible legislation solution. The legislation would establish a pathway for DACA recipients and other young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to gain legal status. The bill currently has 18 GOP cosponsors, but has not received any legislative action to date.

Trump campaigned promising to crack down on illegal immigration, but has taken a softer tone on the fate of immigrants already enrolled in DACA.

"It's a decision that I make and it's a decision that's very, very hard to make. I really understand the situation now," Trump told reporters on Air Force One in July.

"I understand the situation very well. What I'd like to do is a comprehensive immigration plan. But our country and political forces are not ready yet."

The Department of Homeland Security announced in June that current DACA recipients would "continue to be eligible for renewal."

At the same time, the Trump administration formally rescinded another Obama-era program that would have shielded undocumented immigrants from deportation who were parents of children legally in the U.S. That program, known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), never went into effect because of legal litigation.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/34...s-for-dreamers

END DACA NOW! There is nothing "hard" about telling people in our country illegally to get the hell out. We don't care what pity party they want to have or sob story they want to tell, none of it has anything to do with the United States or American Citizens. We didn't bring them here, their parents did. Now get the whole kit and caboodle out of here, the DACA's and their parents and anyone else who is here in violation of US immigration law.

We willl NEVER solve this problem if we make exceptions for this reason or that reason, there is no solution when we break our own laws by granting amnesty, temporary work permits, "deferred status", birthright citizenship to children of illegal aliens or any other type of free pass to illegal aliens or their offspring.

What's "hard" is watching the despair of American Citizens and American Workers of all ages trying to sustain themselves waiting for the email or phone to ring with a job offer, watching the mail box for an acceptance letter to a college they can afford, waiting as the years go by for a promotion or a raise, more hours or a new company benefit to come through; sitting in classes in public schools filled with students from other countries who don't even speak our language getting all the attention while you wait to have your question answered or your needs addressed; sitting in hospital emergency rooms waiting to see a doctor behind a line of people who aren't even supposed to be in our country; or paying income, sales and property taxes that are funding the lives of illegal aliens at our expense while they steal our jobs and educational opportunities right out from under us.

Giving out free passes to illegal aliens paid for with the lives, earnings, jobs, opportunities, taxes, blood, tears, hopes and dreams of American Citizens and American Workers isn't "hard", it's the easiest thing in the world, which is why we've had a string of cowardly Presidents and stupid Congresscritters for 40 years addicted to this scourge like a bunch of junkies.

We need a brave and courageous President to say NO MORE, this is the end of the line, it's over, it ends now, once and for all, for everyone, across the board, no exceptions, no mercy, no excuses, no child or parent left behind. Everyone goes. This is not only the law of the United States, it's just and necessary law for the people of the United States and the sovereignty of our nation.

Any President who can tell Americans to leave the United States and go risk their lives and limbs fighting some foreign war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, North Korea or anywhere else, can certainly muster the energy and words to tell a bunch of illegal aliens in our country in blatant violation of US immigration law to leave the United States and go home.

This is insanity.

These people are going to be detrimental in the long run to the American people. They will be our lawmakers, judges, lawyers, law enforcement of tomorrow.

We have educated many of them really well - using resources our young people should have had.

They should express gratitude and Mexico should thank us and welcome them home.