Trump Administration Gives Congress Six Months to Save DACA

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 (WASHINGTON INSIDER ALERT) - Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. The program, which was created by the Obama administration, has allowed close to 800,000 undocumented immigrants, known as "Dreamers," to live, work and study in the U.S. Sessions announced that the termination of the program will be delayed by six months, giving Congress until March 5 to find a solution.

Officials have said that protections given under DACA will remain in effect for individuals until they expire and that current participants whose permits expire before March 5, 2018, will be able to renew their status if they file before October 5. However, today is the last day the administration will consider new applications for legal status.

CUPA-HR supports the DACA program and signed on to a letter last week requesting that President Trump preserve the program until a long-term solution can be found. One such solution which CUPA-HR supports is the bipartisan Dream Act of 2017, introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), which would allow undocumented immigrants who grew up in the United States the ability to earn lawful permanent residence and would provide a pathway to citizenship.

Yesterday, following press reports that the president intended to rescind DACA, the American Council on Education (ACE) issued a statement urging Congress to pass the Dream Act or other legislation to assist Dreamers. CUPA-HR will continue to work with ACE and others to support Congressional action that will allow Dreamers to continue to work in the U.S., attend U.S. colleges, and serve in our military.