Trump’s Ambition to Eliminate Daca- A Closer Look at the Potential Impact on Immigrant Youth

Does Trump Want to Get Rid of Daca?

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, initiated under the Obama administration, has been a topic of significant debate and controversy. As President Donald Trump took office, one of the most pressing questions was whether he would attempt to dismantle the program that protected nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. This article delves into the complexities surrounding Trump’s stance on DACA and the potential implications of its elimination.

During his campaign, President Trump expressed his intention to prioritize the deportation of undocumented immigrants who had committed crimes. However, his stance on DACA was somewhat ambiguous. While he criticized the program as an “amnesty,” he also acknowledged the difficult situations faced by those who had grown up in the United States and had no knowledge of another country. This ambiguity left many wondering whether Trump truly wanted to get rid of DACA.

Upon taking office, President Trump’s administration initially indicated that it would not take immediate action against DACA recipients. However, in September 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Department of Justice would no longer defend the program in court. This decision came as a shock to many, as it appeared that the Trump administration was moving closer to ending DACA.

Despite the administration’s decision, a group of Democratic states and immigration advocacy groups filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the DACA program’s termination. In June 2018, a federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction that blocked the administration from ending the program. This ruling, however, was only temporary, and the fate of DACA remained uncertain.

Throughout his presidency, Trump’s administration faced intense pressure from both sides of the political spectrum. Proponents of DACA argued that eliminating the program would be cruel and unnecessary, while opponents claimed that it was an illegal executive action that encouraged illegal immigration. The debate continued, with Trump’s position on DACA remaining inconsistent.

Ultimately, President Trump decided not to end the DACA program through executive action, despite the administration’s initial efforts to dismantle it. Instead, he left the decision to Congress, urging them to find a legislative solution. In December 2018, a deal was reached that would provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, but the deal fell apart when it was blocked by conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans.

As President Trump’s presidency came to an end, the fate of DACA remained unresolved. While Trump had expressed his desire to get rid of the program, his administration ultimately failed to dismantle it. The debate over DACA’s future continues, with the program’s recipients and their advocates fighting for their rights and seeking a permanent solution.

In conclusion, while President Trump wanted to get rid of DACA, his administration’s efforts to eliminate the program were met with resistance and legal challenges. The debate over the program’s future remains a contentious issue, highlighting the complexities of immigration policy in the United States.