Trump Kills DACA: Sessions Calls Program ‘Unconstitutional’ and His Duty to End

Sessions Falsely Suggests DACA Immigrants are Dangerous

Attorney General Jeff Sessions late Tuesday morning announced the Trump administration is officially ending DACA, an Obama-era  program that protects about 800,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to America by their parents as children. 

Sessions told reporters at a no-questions press briefing that a “wind-down” process will begin, allowing Congress to act if it chooses. A six-month period before DACA ends has now begun. He suggested DACA does not serve the interests of the American people and does not serve the national interest.

DACA gives DREAMers work permits, which means that 30,000 each month will have to quit or be fired from their jobs. Ending DACA will reduce U.S. GDP by $433 billion over a 10-year period.

“The program knowns as DACA that was effectuated under the Obama administration is being rescinded,” Sessions said, calling it an “unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch.” 

Killing DACA does not mean enrollees “are bad people or that our nation disrespects or demeans them in any way,” Sessions said. “The nation must set a limit on how many people we can admit every year.”

“The compassionate thing to do is end the lawlessness, enforce our laws,” Sessions told reporters. “We are people of compassion and we are people of law.”

“Enforcing the law saves lives,” Sessions said, advancing his white nationalist theories. He also said that by ending DACA will allow the U.S. to ensure it teaches immigrants in the U.S. about our legislative systems.

More than nine out of 10 DREAMers are either employed or in school, they have all undergone background checks, and have to re-apply for DACA status every two years. they also have to pay a $495 fee each time they re-apply, which brings delivers an estimated $198 billion to the federal government each year.

To comment on this article and other NCRM content, visit our Facebook page.

If you find NCRM valuable, would you please consider making a donation to support our independent journalism?