DACA speculation spurs protest in Phoenix

The possibility of President Donald Trump ending a program that has allowed young undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States drew protesters Thursday in front of the Phoenix offices of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program grants those who meet specific requirements deportation protection, educational opportunities and work permits for up to two years. It allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the country as children and grew up here to legally remain.

During the presidential campaign, Trump vowed to end the program, calling it another example of then-President Barack Obama’s abuse of executive power. After winning the presidential election, Trump changed his position, expressing sympathy for the young immigrants and saying he would treat them with “great heart.”

Speculation surfaced Thursday that Trump could reverse the program, which was adopted by Obama, as early as Friday. About 800,000 people are impacted by the program.

Reversing the plan would eliminate the chance for undocumented immigrants to apply or reapply for DACA. Those currently in the program would be allowed to stay in the country until their work permits expire. Tech-industry officials are among those who have raised concerns if the program were to end.

DACA recipient Reyna Montoya, 26, said protesters hoped to gain the attention of politicians.

“Our call is for local, state and nationwide politicians to really protect us,” said Montoya, one of close to 50 protesters, many carrying signs, who assembled Thursday in Phoenix.

The group also was there to draw attention to the way ICE has been handling deportations since Trump took office.

“ICE needs to be investigated,” Montoya said.

“With this new administration we have seen that even though DACA is still in place, we have seen 43 DACA recipients already deported (nationally),” she added, citing figures released earlier this year by the Department of Homeland Security.

Samantha Sidoti, an elementaryteacher in west Phoenix, attended the rally to support the DACA recipients.

“You wanna make America great? Well, these are people making America great,” Sidoti said. “They are teachers, they are workers, they are mothers, and they are children.”

ICE officials said the agency will continue to enforce the law if a person is in the country illegally.

“ICE acting Director Thomas Homan has made clear, ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement,” said Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe, ICE’s Phoenix public-affairs officer. “All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.”

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton issued a statement in response to Trump’s expected announcement of the program’s removal.

“If President Trump ends the DACA program, it would put 30,000 young women and men in Arizona at risk of deportation,” Stanton said.

USA TODAY contributed to this article.