The DACA Debate: An American dream or an invitation for illegal immigration?

Jul 21, 2021 at 12:10 PM CDT

Shannon Longworth

daca debate

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Federal Judge Andrew Hanen ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is unconstitutional. The Biden Administration plans to appeal the decision, continuing the debate over DACA, which began with its inception in 2012.

Shannon Longworth

Shannon Longworth was an investigative reporter and anchor for Straight Arrow News from 2021 to 2023. She started her career on California’s central coast, then made her way back home working in the sprawling suburbs of New York City

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LONGWORTH: IT MAY BE THE END OF THE DREAM FOR IMMIGRANTS NATIONWIDE.

THERE ARE ABOUT 700,000 DREAMERS, TEMPORARILY PROTECTED FROM DEPORTATION BY DACA–THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS.

RIGHT NOW, THEIR FUTURES HANG IN THE BALANCE AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE’S RULING THAT THE PROTECTION PROGRAM IS SIMPLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

CONSERVATIVES SAY HE’S RIGHT.

LIBERALS DISAGREE.

BUT FIRST THINGS FIRST—WHAT EVEN *IS* DACA?

LET ME EXPLAIN.

BACK IN 2012, PRESIDENT OBAMA CREATED THE PROGRAM THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER.

IT BENEFITS IMMIGRANTS BROUGHT TO THE U-S ILLEGALLY AS CHILDREN…

PROTECTING THEM FROM DEPORTATION.

THEY HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO STAY AND WORK HERE,

BUT NO GREEN CARDS–THAT’S WHAT MAKES IT TEMPORARY.

LORA RIES, WITH THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, AND MANY ON THE RIGHT, TAKE ISSUE WITH IT.

RIES: NOT ONLY DOES AN AMNESTY FOR ANY POPULATION, ENCOURAGE MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OR EVEN DISCUSSION OF AN AMNESTY. WE’RE DEALING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE HERE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT ALSO ENCOURAGES MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY MINORS.”

LONGWORTH: IN FACT, RIES SAYS THE PROCEDURE BEHIND THE PROGRAM WASN’T SOUND.

RIES: THE THEN OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TOOK IT UPON ITSELF TO SIGN A MEMO AND CREATE THIS DACA PROGRAM OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH. AND THAT’S WHAT MANY JUDGES AND OPPONENTS HAVE SAID WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. IT’S CONGRESS WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO CREATE IMMIGRATION BENEFITS FOR A POPULATION.”

LONGWORTH: MEANWHILE, ANDRES MEJER, AN ATTORNEY FOR DACA RECIPIENTS, SAYS DREAMERS ARE LIKE ANY OTHER AMERICANS, AND DESERVE PERMANENT PROTECTION.

MEJER: THEY WORK, THEY PAY TAXES, THEY MARRIED, THEY HAVE CHILDREN, THEY RAISE FAMILIES, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WANT LAW ABIDING CITIZENS DACA ARE THE BEST FOR THE SIMPLE REASON IS THE SMALLEST INFRACTION RESULTS IN THEIR DEPORTATION.”

LONGWORTH: THESE DEBATES HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A DECADE.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO GET RID OF DACA.

THE SUPREME COURT STOPPED THE EFFORT IN JUNE OF 2020.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE MOST RECENT RULING.

BOTH SIDES JUST LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT DECISION.

MEJER: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS THAT PAY TAXES, GAINFULLY EMPLOYED, AND ARE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY? DO WE WANT THEM HERE? IF THE ANSWER IS NO, WELL, I THINK IT’S THE WRONG ANSWER. BUT WE HAVE TO AT LEAST MAKE A DECISION.

RIES: IT IS AN ILLEGAL PROGRAM TO BE SURE. AND WHEN THE SUPREME COURT SAID DHS HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESCIND IT, IT’S DIFFICULT TO SEE A COURT FINDING THAT THE PROGRAM SHOULD STAY AS IT IS, GIVEN HOW IT WAS CREATED.

LONGWORTH: WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD DACA TURN INTO A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP? OR SHOULD IT BE SCRAPPED ALTOGETHER?

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS.

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