Trump Will Sign Executive Order to Provide US Citizenship for DACA Recipients
That American dream, soon into reality.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he would be signing an executive order that will provide protection and a path to U.S. citizenship for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
DACA is a program created during the Obama administration. It aimed to provide work permits and access to higher education for people brought to the country as children by undocumented parents. The program also allows the recipients called "Dreamers," to hold driver's licenses and in-state tuition.
In an interview with Noticias Telemundo anchor Jose Diaz-Balart, Trump revealed he would be signing a "big immigration bill" that would "take care" of the DACA program. He said the White House is still working out legal complexities, Fox News reports.
When pressed on whether the executive order would provide Dreamers legal status, Trump said the administration is looking into implementing a merit-based bill that could also give the immigrants a road to citizenship.
In an NPR report, Judd Deere, the White House spokesman, said the executive order would also include strong border security and a legislative solution to DACA. However, it does not include amnesty.
Ted Cruz Reacts
Republican Senator Ted Cruz urged the Trump administration to exclude a road to citizenship, claiming it violated the president's constitutional authority.
"It was unconstitutional when Obama issued executive amnesty, and it would be a HUGE mistake if Trump tries to expand amnesty illegally," Cruz said.
Also read: Supreme Court Blocks Trump's Efforts to End DACA, Grants Relief to Undocumented Immigrants
Trump's latest comments clashed with recent reports claiming the administration would renew its effort to end Obama's DACA program after the Supreme Court voted against ending the program in a 5-4 decision.
According to the Supreme Court, the president did not offer enough reasons to end the program and the protections it provides undocumented immigrants. However, the court allowed the administration to file for another motion to terminate the program.
Disrupting the Economy
Trump's announcement came after a group of prominent business leaders asked the president to keep the program.
In a letter written by the members of the Coalition for the American Dream, the leaders noted that thousands of DACA recipients are part of the American workforce and industries. Disrupting the program, they say, would have a devastating impact on the economy.
The letter went on to say that tens of thousands are currently employed as front line doctors, nurses, and in other industries fighting the novel coronavirus, the New York Times reports.
A demographic profile compiled by the Center for American Progress in April 2020 showed there are over 202,500 DACA recipients currently working to protect the health and safety of Americans.
Many of the recipients were doctors, nurses, and medical students. Some also worked as teachers who strive to provide children with a sense of well-being. Other DACA recipients work in industries that grow, pack, and fill shelves with food.