Immigration Reform News 2017: Protecting DACA a Necessity as 'People Feel at Risk'
Several politicians and government officials are voicing their concerns for protecting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) holders after President Donald Trump announced plans to scrap the program. The issue on immigration reforms once again reared its ugly head among Americans in light of these latest developments.
One of the more vocal officials includes Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor who said that this is a pressing issue despite the differing opinions from all sides of the political spectrum.
"Some people feel at risk," Sotomayor said during a civics forum. "[The government] is going to have to address it in some meaningful way that will give people some sense of greater security than what they're feeling."
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DACA provides thousands of children of illegal immigrant families the opportunities to pursue education or gain employment in the United States while awaiting their official immigration status. Formed in 2012 under President Barack Obama's admiration, some 800,000 children could lose this privilege should Trump succeed in scrapping the program.
Trump announced in early September that he is giving Congress six months to look into the legalities of keeping DACA afloat. For now, however, the government halted the processing of new DACA applications. Immigrant children holding nearly expired DACA will no longer receive protection while Congress is still reviewing immigration reforms.
Trump's move puts American citizens first. He said that the reforms, while beneficial to immigrants, must also keep in mind struggling Americans who can't get education or employment opportunities because it goes to immigrants.
Former governor Janet Napolitano, who worked as the Homeland Security secretary under Obama, hopes Congress will pass a legitimate immigration reform once DACA is gone. As it is, the thousands of DREAMers, the term for DACA beneficiaries, are feeling uncertain.
"[They] have to walk around always looking over their shoulders to see if there is an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent," Napolitano remarked.
