Trump administration keeps policy on Dreamers, reverses campaign promise
The recent announcement by the Trump administration will come as a relief for many protected under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program, but not for those eligible for the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents or DAPA program.
According to the New York Times, the Trump administration has officially reversed President Trump's campaign pledge to deport "Dreamers" from the U.S. -- that is, undocumented immigrants who entered the country as small children.
A memo posted to the Department of Homeland Security website notes that the DACA program will continue as per the current guidelines.
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"DACA recipients will continue to be eligible as outlined in the June 15, 2012 memorandum. DACA recipients who were issued three-year extensions before the district court's injunction will not be affected, and will be eligible to seek a two-year extension upon their expiration," the department notes. "No work permits will be terminated prior to their current expiration dates."
Trump appeared to take a different stance on immigration during the campaign.
He said at an August 2016 event, "We will immediately terminate President Obama's two illegal executive amnesties, in which he defied federal law and the constitution to give amnesty to approximately 5 million illegal immigrants."
However, a month into the presidency, he noted, "We are going to deal with DACA with heart. I have to deal with a lot of politicians, don't forget, and I have to convince them that what I'm saying is right."
In the recent announcement, the administration did state that it's rescinding the DAPA policy, citing various factors, "including the nationwide injunction of the DAPA memorandum, the ongoing litigation, the fact that DAPA never took effect, and our new immigration enforcement priorities."
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