President Donald Trump is expected to soon make a decision on a program that, in part, allows for thousands of young illegal immigrants to remain in the country.<\/p>\n
Young immigrants and immigration advocates are bracing for the possibility that Trump will dismantle the issuance of new work permits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program \u2013 a move that would effectively phase out a program that has protected hundreds of thousands of young people from deportation and given them the ability to work in the U.S.<\/p>\n
The DACA program was a crucial and controversial part of the 2016 presidential election \u2013 and Trump himself hasn’t provided voters with a conclusive stance.<\/p>\n
Read on for a look at how the DACA program works and why Trump could disband it.<\/p>\n
What is the DACA program?<\/b><\/p>\n
The DACA program was formed through executive order by former President Barack Obama in 2012 and allows for certain people who come to the U.S. illegally as minors protection from immediate deportation. Recipients are able to request \u201cconsideration of deferred action\u201d for a period of two years which is subject to renewal.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time,\u201d U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services<\/a> states. \u201cDeferred action does not provide lawful status.\u201d<\/p>\n TRUMP EXPECTED TO DECIDE SOON ON FATE OF DREAMERS<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Individuals are able to request DACA status if they were under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012, came to the U.S. before turning 16 and have continuously lived in the country since June 15, 2007.<\/p>\n Individuals must also have a high school diploma, GED certification, been honorably discharged from the military or still be in school. Recipients cannot have a criminal record.<\/p>\n It does not provide \u201clegal status.\u201d<\/p>\n How many people are affected by DACA?<\/b><\/p>\n Nearly 800,000 undocumented youth are under the program’s umbrella.<\/p>\n “As leaders of communities across the country \u2013 individuals and institutions that have seen these young people grow up in our communities \u2013 we recognize how they have enriched and strengthened our cities, states, schools, businesses, congregations and families.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n And, thousands of people could lose their jobs should Trump decide to phase out the DACA program, according to a recent study by the left-leaning think tank<\/a>, the Center for American Progress.<\/p>\n Nearly 2,000 leaders have signed onto a letter<\/a> asking Trump to protect the so-called Dreamers, including eight governors.<\/p>\n \u201cAs leaders of communities across the country \u2013 individuals and institutions that have seen these young people grow up in our communities \u2013 we recognize how they have enriched and strengthened our cities, states, schools, businesses, congregations and families,\u201d the letter said.<\/p>\n Why would Trump dismantle it?<\/b><\/p>\n The Trump administration has a deadline of Sept. 5 to make a decision on DACA \u2013 imposed by some Republican state lawmakers who hope to force the president\u2019s hand in discontinuing the program.<\/p>\n During the presidential campaign, Trump referred to the DACA program as \u201cillegal amnesty.\u201d However, since he became president, he\u2019s alluded that he doesn\u2019t know if he\u2019ll strongly oppose the program and told the Associated Press in April that DACA recipients could \u201crest easy.\u201d<\/p>\n MOTHER OF TWO AT CENTER OF DACA DEBATE IN KENTUCKY<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Republicans \u2013 and some Democrats \u2013 opposed Obama\u2019s order from the start as a perceived overreach of executive power.<\/p>\n \u201cThe point here is \u2026 the president does not have the authority to waive immigration law, nor does he have the authority to create it out of thin air,\u201d Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said at the time<\/a>.<\/p>\n King has remained a stalwart Republican against the program; he suggested earlier this week<\/a> that DACA recipients should turn their parents into federal immigration authorities.<\/p>\n Trump is said to be weighing multiple options for the future of DACA, White House sources told Fox News.<\/p>\n\n