Tag: DACA

What Immigration is Doing to US Government?


Time: 3:12 p.m. CEST

Members of Congress would reconvene on Saturday to review possibility for a three-week version of the budget to finance the government after Congress did not succeed by Friday midnight to diminish differences on immigration and spending.

The failure to produce agreement on former President Barack Obama’s program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals by midnight on Friday could leave thousands government employees on furlough if Congress fails in the weekend to reach temporary agreement only on spending.

During the voting in Congress last night, Senate Republicans failed to ensure 60 votes to break a filibuster imposed by Senate Democrats. In the late-night vote, Senate Republicans gained 50 votes in favor to 49 against the short-term spending bill that would have funded the government for 30 days. On Thursday, the House passed short-term finance bill.

What caused this?

Even though, Republicans and Democrats talked behind the scene to find solution for DACA program that the U.S. President Donald Trump canceled last year, the failure for a common language halted hopes to avoid the shutdown. Both were trying the ways to protect the dreamers and respond to Trump’s requirement for stronger border security and scrutinized process of obtaining citizenship.

To avoid looming shutdown, Trump invited Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer for a discussion at the White House. As Schumer left the White House on Friday and without possible agreement on prospect, Trump tweeted the deal was not possible.

Trump pointed out to Democrats and said, they “want a shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the tax cuts, and what they are doing for booming economy.”

Vice President Mike Pence commented that Trump’s administration worked for a bipartisan deal to “strengthen our borders, end chain migration, eliminate the visa lottery, and deal compassionately with DACA.”

The White House press secretary Sarah Sanders responded with a statement blaming Democrats for putting immigrants above the government. “We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands,” Sanders explained in the statement.

Immigration

Trump campaigned against immigration during his presidential campaign for 2016 Presidential elections. He used harsh language for Mexican immigrants and promised building of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that already exists in parts of the border.

Trump’s approach to immigration differs the way the Republican Party looked at immigration. In 2004, President George W. Bush had 44 percent of the Hispanic votes. Republican nominee Mitt Romney changed his opinion from a “pro-immigration governor” to an official who is promoting “self-deportation.” That cost him a win, as Latino-voters support for Romney was only 27 percent. Democrats use the immigration as a major issue to attract Latino voters. Loosing DACA that is now in the hands of the Supreme Court could be of bigger risk for Democrats amid next year midterm elections.

What is DACA?

DACA is program offered by previous U.S. administration for specific part of the undocumented population in the U.S. that is granting two-year status to those qualifying for the program. Immigrants who were under 31 years of age as of June 15, 2012, could apply for the program. The program offers possibility for employment, but only in the situation if the applicant receives DACA status. With the program, about 700.000 people surfaced from the shadow and registered under the program.

Who is affected?

Many of the thousands of government employees could be affected if the deal would not be reached until Monday. Depending on the internal rules of the government agencies, critical functions would continue with military, health inspectors and law enforcement officers would work without paychecks. Last shutdown of the U.S. government was in October 2013 and lasted 16 days. Even though, Republicans regain control over the Senate after midterm elections in 2014, it is unclear whether the standoff would end or continue after Monday.

References:

Sullivan, Sean, and Ed O’Keeffe. “In spending fight, Republicans embrace Trump’s hard-line stand on immigration.” washingtonpost.com, Nash Holdings LLC, wapo.st/2mWAJJq. Accessed 20 Jan. 2018.

https://www.immigrationequality.org, Immigration Equality, bit.ly/2DqVtmH. Accessed 20 Jan. 2018.

Miller, Zake, Andrew Taylor, Alan Fram, Jill Colvin, and Catherine Lucey. “US government shuts down; Dems, GOP blame each other.” https://apnews.com, Associated Press, 20 Jan. 2018, bit.ly/2DqzqwF. Accessed 20 Jan. 2018.

Shabad, Rebecca, Kathryn Watson, Jacqueline Alemany, and Rebecca Kaplam. “Government shuts down on one-year anniversary of Trump presidency.” https://www.cbsnews.com, CBS Corporation, 19 Jan. 2018, bit.ly/2DqzqwF. Accessed 20 Jan. 2018.

DeBonis, Mike, Ed O’Keefe, Erica Werner, and Elise Viebeck. “Government shuts down after Senate bill collapses, negotiations fail.” https://www.washingtonpost.com, Nash Holdings LLC, 20 Jan. 2018, wapo.st/2mWe4fg. Accessed 20 Jan. 2018

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US President Trump Said Immigration Deal Possible in Two Phases


Time: 9:43 p.m. CEST

The United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that an immigration deal is possible and that could be done in two phases, addressing both young immigrants and border security using “bill of love,” followed by the comprehensive changes. On Tuesday, Trump had a meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers looking for solution on children brought in the United States illegally after he ended the Obama legislation for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

DACA program offered solution to more than 700,000 people from deportation giving the permission to work. The Associated Press reported that Trump gave the Congress to find a fix to the issue. All at the meeting, as the AP reports, the president, congressional Republicans and Democrats shared optimism 10 days before a deadline to reach a consensus on the budget and keep government open.

Trump met with a bipartisan group of 20 lawmakers during 55 minutes meeting and said his position “are going to be what the people in this room come up with.” Trump would insist on border wall construction, but Congress could further pursue with comprehensive immigration reform. Democrats and Republicans are set to resume negotiations on Wednesday, the AP reports.

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US President Trump Says ‘We are working on DACA’ Plan


Time: 5:08 p.m. CEST

The United States President Donald Trump wants “a responsible path forward,” on immigration reform that would include citizenship over period of time, the White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters said to reporters traveling with Trump to Florida, the Associated Press writes.

Walters, the AP, publishes said Trump would not “support amnesty,” for those illegally in the United States. According to the AP, Walters explained no deal was achieved during the dinner between Trump and Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Shumer, although both said deal was discussed on Deferred Action Childhood Arrival recipients.

But, Trump said, “no deals was made last night,” on the issue for protection of those who arrived in the  U.S. as a children before 2007. Later Trump said, “he’s ‘fairly close’ to reaching a deal with congressional leaders,” and that he needs ‘”massive border security.'”

The AP comments that “Democratic leaders in Congress and President Donald Trump can’t seem to agree on just what it is they agreed to at a White House dinner.”

New York Senator Chuck Schumer and California Representative Nancy Pelosi, said,  there is an agreement on putting into law an Obama administration program that’s given protection to certain young immigrants. “

All agreed to work out a U.S.-Mexico border security, but Schumer and Pelosi said that would not include Trump’s border wall.

Before daybreak on Thursday, Trump tweeted, “No deal was made last night on DACA,” further adding “Massive border security would have to be agreed to in exchange for consent.”

The U.S. President Trump ended the program on September 5 and gave period of six months to Congress to find a way to fix the program. If Congress could not find solution the work permits of the “Dreamers” would start to expire. Children who were brought in the U.S. illegally are known as DREAMers, after the 2001 DREAM act open a path for possible citizenship.

 

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Congress Will Need to Decide Dreamers Destiny, After Trump’s Administration Decision to Wind Down DACA Program


Time: 11:16 p.m. CEST

The Unites States President Donald Trump gave six months period to Congress to legalize program that enables about 800.000 people to live and work in the U.S.

Trump decided do shut down the program of the former administration, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. A program, which was one of the marks of the former President, Barack Obama began in 2012 with a opportunity for children brought into America by their parents to obtain legal work permit every two year if they can comply with the American way of living.

“Congress now has six months to legalize DACA, something that Obama administration was unable to do,” Trump tweeted hours after he decided to put the destiny of those people to the Congress.

The United States President Donald Trump decided to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, created as a program by the administration of the former President Barack Obama. President Trump did not announce the measure himself. Instead, the Attorney General Jeff Session explained the program “has been rescinded,” talking from the Department of Justice.

The announcement on DACA, implemented since 2012 to provide legal status to children brought in America illegally by their parents, provoked many reactions. Former President Obama explained his DACA decision on social media with Facebook post.

As Obama stated, over the years, bipartisan groups have worked together on the legislation for the young people and the possibilities for them to remain and “earn citizenship.” For years, Obama waited and asked Congress to send him such a bill.

“That bill never came. And because it made no sense to expel talented, driven, patriotic young people from the only country they know solely because of the actions of their parents, my administration acted to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people,” Obama stated.

After today’s announcement at the Department of Justice, many DACA protected young people protested in New York City. The protesters shouted loudly, “I am not afraid, I am documented.” Protesters gather at, not only the Trump Tower in NYC, but also in Washington D.C., where they promised, “keep fighting for ‘Dreamers.’”

Trump’s administration decided to grant a period for these young people until Congress find a lawful way for their status. Regardless, the process of shutting down the program started. Attorney General Sessions clearly stated that, “the Department of Justice has advised the President and the Department of Homeland Security that DHS should begin an orderly lawful wind down process, including cancellation of the memo that authorizes this program,” Sessions said.

Shortly after the announcement, Acting Secretary Elaine Duke of the Department of Homeland Security published a statement for the process. Duke explained that in respond to recent litigation, DHS had two options, either the wind the program down in an orderly fashion, which protects “Dreamers” while Congress work to pass the legislation, or allow the judiciary to potentially shut the program down immediately.

What was effect of DACA?

This question also raised debate after Session’s announcement of Trump’s decision. Obama reacted in his Facebook post that these “Dreamers,” called on never-passed proposals in Congress called the DREAM Act for similar protections, are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper.

“They were brought to this country by their parents, sometimes even as infants. They may not know a country besides ours. They may not even know a language besides English,” Obama stated. Obama called today’s action “contrary to our spirit.”

But, Sessions accused the executive branch through DACA for making something that legislative branch refused to authorize. “Such an open-ended circumvention of immigration laws was unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch.

The effect of this unilateral executive amnesty, among other things contributed to a surge at the southern border that yielded terrible humanitarian consequences,” Sessions talked.

In 2014, about 52.000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended along the Southwest border, but they were not eligible for a protection under DACA program.

Sessions said that DACA protected “recipients for a renewable two-year term work authorization,” used the social security program and took the jobs of thousands of Americans. DHS Acting Secretary Duke went even further, calling the program “never more than parole,” which never promised the rights of citizenship or legal status. Calling it “a bureaucratic delay,” Duke, said DACA, “was a lie that left recipients in two-year circle of uncertainty.”

The acting secretary shared the opinion that believes President Obama had “genuine intentions for DACA and he was frustrated by his inability to maneuver through the legislative process.”

“Secretarial Memo is not a substitute for a law passed by Congress and signed by the president,” Duke said.

Obama was clear in the post. “That bill never came.” Even though, as Obama writes, some 800.000 young people, stepped forward, met rigorous requirements, and “went through background checks.” Obama evaluate this action “contrary to our spirit, and to common sense.

Many in business community, faith leaders, and economists called Trump’s administration not to cut the program.

As they protested on Tuesday, Erica Andiola in a statement to Associated Press said, they are here to show Trump that, “we are not going to be afraid of him, that we are tired of him attacking us.”

The destiny of Dreamers will be in the hands of the Members of Congress to decide on their future.

If Congress acts in the period framed by Trump, the President could sign into legislation, giving the Dreamers legality for a stay in the U.S. Contrary, the program could expire and leave the beneficiaries vulnerable to deportation.

 

 

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President Obama Says President-elect Should “Think Long and Hard” before Endangering DACA Protected Children


Time: 12:06 a.m. CEST

President Barack Obama urged President-elect Donald Trump not to deport hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children who have enrolled in a program to temporarily protect them from being removed from the country, Justin Sink of Bloomberg writes after Monday’s news conference of President Barack Obama in the White House.

After the question of Sink on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Obama said that President-elect Trump should “think long and hard before they are endangering the status of who, for all practical purposes, are American kids,” Obama said. “These are kids who were brought here by their parents. They did nothing wrong. They’ve gone to school, they’ve pledged allegiance to the flag. By definition, if they’re part of this program, they are solid, wonderful young people with good character.”

President-elect Trump said during the campaign he would deport more than 11 million people who are in the U.S illegally, and supported the idea of building a wall along the southern border. In his first interview after the election, Trump said to CBS’ “60 Minutes,”  that the U.S. could deport about two to three million people who are illegally in the United States and committed crimes.

Sink writes that, It’s also not clear whether Trump will order the Department of Homeland Security to suspend the DACA program and halt issuance of work permits to Dreamers, as children brought to the country illegally are called by their advocates.”

 

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