President Donald Trump has called for the end of DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. He has now put the fate of the program in the hands of Congress.
DACA was enacted during the Obama administration in 2012. The program allows for hundreds of thousands of young people who were brought to the USA before 2007, illegally, to remain in the country. They can live and work in the U.S. for two year renewable periods.
“Well we have been expecting some sort of a decision, more likely adverse, for some time on this question,” said Bill Chandler Executive Director MS Immigrants’ Rights Alliance.
Around 800,000 applications have been accepted for what they call “dreamers.” Roughly 2,800 of those live in Mississippi.
On Tuesday the Trump administration made the announcement that the program was being rescinded. Attorney General Jeff Sessions even called it unconstitutional. Now, new applications will not be accepted, however those with work permits that will expire on March 5, 2018 will be allowed to renew.
Now, it is the hands of Congress to formulate a plan before the federal government officially stops renewing permits.
