Congress must act on ‘Dreamers,’ all sides agree
President Donald Trump’s decision to “wind down” a program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children drew sharp criticism Tuesday from state and local activists and legislators.
“President Trump’s action today is an insult to America and our values,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., in a statement. “This action is profoundly unjust, immoral and without regard for basic fairness.”
President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, has provided nearly 800,000 young immigrants a reprieve from deportation and the ability to work legally in the U.S. since its enactment in August 2012.
But Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the program “an unconstitutional exercise of authority” in making the announcement that the government will stop processing new DACA applications Tuesday.
“The policy was implemented unilaterally, to great controversy and legal concern after Congress rejected legislative proposals to extend similar benefits, on numerous occasions, to this same group of illegal aliens,” Sessions said. “The executive branch, through DACA, deliberately sought to achieve what the legislative branch specifically refused to authorize on multiple occasions. Such an open-ended circumvention of immigration laws was an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch.”
“The revocation of DACA by our president is just one more indication that all of us who believe in America’s highest ideals must push back with all the power we have to pass the Dreamer Act,” said U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, D-1, of Philadelphia. “The Dreamers should not be abandoned and thrown back because of the petty and short sighted whims of our president.”
Trump promised to end the program during his campaign, but has since expressed sympathy for those brought to the United States illegally as children. He indicated in a tweet that it would now be up to Congress to decide the fate of those protected by the program, saying, “Congress, get ready to do your job DACA!”
Casey suggested lawmakers should meet that mandate by immediately moving to pass the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, or DREAM, Act, which could grant permanent legal status to more than 1 million young people who arrived in the United States before they turned 18 if they pass security checks and met other criteria, including enrolling in college, joining the military or finding jobs.
“The ‘Dreamers’ are young people who have lived in our country since they were children,” said Casey. “They have been lawabiding residents who have learned English, paid taxes and secured jobs that allow them to support themselves and their families. Our government promised them that they would be protected if they came forward and now President Trump is breaking that promise.”
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., agreed that children brought into the country at a young age are not at fault, but said Obama did not have the legal authority to create the DACA program. He added that Trump’s decision to end the program while giving Congress six months to come up with a replacement was the right move.
“Congress needs to pass legislation to accommodate these young people while simultaneously addressing the other challenges within our deeply broken immigration system, including stopping dangerous sanctuary cities, strengthening border security, and cracking down on companies that hire people who are here illegally,” Toomey said in a tweeted statement.
State Sen. Daylin Leach, D-17, of Lower Merion, an outspoken opponent of Trump and one of six Democrats running for the nomination to face U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7, of Chadds Ford in the 2018 midterm election, focused on the economic consequences that a DACA repeal could bring.
“Perhaps we should speak in terms Trump can understand: Deporting 750,000 parents, friends, and neighbors will drastically disrupt the American economy,” Leach said. “They pay mortgages to banks, tuition to schools, and taxes to governments. They are employers, employees, and volunteers. They spend money in American stores to raise their American children. When they are forcibly removed from this country, every American will suffer the economic consequences.”
Meehan’s office released a statement: “President Obama overstepped his authority and circumvented Congress when he issued his executive action on DACA. Congress writes laws and the executive branch enforces them. Congress should address this issue. These young people are here through no fault of their own. They did not make a choice to violate our laws. We shouldn’t punish kids for their parents’ choices. Congress can and should resolve this in a fair, just and bipartisan way.”
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said he is carefully reviewing the DACA directive and speaking with attorneys general in other states. He also renewed a call for legislators to implement comprehensive immigration reforms and strengthen border security.
“I won’t hesitate to do my job and take legal action if the federal government breaks the law as it ends its commitment to these young people,” said Shapiro in a statement. “There are 5,889 ‘Dreamers’ in Pennsylvania who contribute to our economy, our military and quality of life. They came here through no fault of their own as young children in the care of their parents. They relied on a commitment from the U.S. Government and should be able to depend on that promise – not live in fear.”
Protestors operating under the monikers “#PaResist” and “#PaDefendDACA” plan to stage events outside the offices of 16 representatives and senators across Pennsylvania today, including at Meehan’s office in Springfield and Toomey’s office in Harrisburg.
Adanjesus Marin, director of Make the Road Pennsylvania, said in a statement announcing those events that Trump’s move to end DACA was a “shameless attempt to further appease the white supremacists inspired by his campaign of hate” and amounted to an “act of legal terror.”
“There can be no confusion about the fact that this would be a direct attack on our communities, removing legal status for 800,000 immigrant youth,” said Marin. “Anti-immigrants love to say ‘get in line,’ ‘pay your fees,’ ‘follow the rules.’ The DACAmented did all of that, there is no justification for putting their lives in jeopardy other than antiimmigrant hate.”