US President Donald Trump has asked Congress to help speed up the process of deporting DACA immigrants. In a letter to Congress, President Donald Trump said that without these new changes illegal immigration and chain immigration would continue unabated. President Trump has vowed to rescind DACA, which he calls illegal. Trump is of the view that the present system is full of loopholes and backdoors that need a serious reshuffle. People under the program called “DREAMers” are set to face deportation and lose work permits as DACA is rolled back, according to a BBC report.
What are the proposed changes?
Many steps are being taken toward this end. According to an NPR news report, 10,000 new immigration officials and other employees will be hired to speed up the process. After ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the new norms would be stricter. The act was by signed by President Barack Obama in 2012. BBC reports that around 700,000 immigrants are DACA recipients. The program is set to expire in 6 months, and the future of these recipients does not look good. As per the program, illegal immigrants under the age of 30 were required to submit their personal information to the government. In exchange for this, legal action against them would be deferred for a period of up to 2 years.
According to reports from NPR, along with revoking DACA, immigration reform is included in the fresh proposals. These reforms include the construction of a wall along the US/Mexican border. An e-verify program will be set-up to stop illegal immigrants from getting jobs in the US. The president is of the view that illegal immigrants are a major deterrent that prevent US citizens from getting jobs.
370 immigration judges will be added to quickly deal with immigration cases and sanctuary cities would end. Family-based green cards would be limited to stop extended family from finding their place in United States, and asylum status would adhere to tougher standards.
Democrats said they won't support the change
Leading democrats have not only sharply criticized the move but also rejected the proposed changes.
In a statement to the BBC, Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer said, "The administration can't be serious about compromise or helping the Dreamers if they begin with a list that is anathema to the Dreamers, to the immigrant community and to the vast majority of Americans."
