Throughout the train wreck that has been Donald trump’s nine months as President, former President Barack Obama has followed precedent and stayed mostly silent about the behavior of his successor.
However, after Trump’s decision to rescind Daca Obama spoke out in criticism. He wrote in a Facebook post, “To target these young people is wrong—because have done nothing wrong.”
OBAMA REACTS TO DACA DECISION
Obama implemented Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2012 in order to protect the children of immigrants from being deported. Since its creation, DACA has protected almost 800,000 children from deportation.
Obama continued his statement on Facebook, expressing his frustration with the morality of Trump’s decision.
“It’s a political decision, and a moral question. Whatever concerns or complaints Americans may have about immigration in general, we shouldn’t threaten the future of his group of young people who are here through no fault of their own, who pose no threat, who are not taking away anything from the rest of us.”
While Obama silence on the performance of the Trump administration is understandable, it has at times been frustrating. Obama is a figure that people often look to for guidance, and as a former President with a high approval rating of almost 60 percent by the end of his second term as President, his opinion on both moral and political issues is often trusted.
TRUMP LEAVES DACA UP TO CONGRESS, FOR NOW
Understandably so, Obama’s choice to speak out on DACA says something about the importance of DACA and the considerably cruel choice of the Trump administration to rescind it. Among those in Trump’s administration who has been criticized over the DACA announcement is Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was called out on twitter for a dismissive press briefing.
Since Obama’s statement and the political and public backlash, Trump has announced that he would revisit the issue of rescinding DACA if congress cannot legalize it in six months.
There are a few legislations that could allow Congress to save DACA, such as the Hope Act and the RAC Act. DACA’s survival is now in the hands of Congress, who with voting on Harvey relief aid and Hurricane Irma’s approach, have a lot to juggle.
However, Obama’s statement raises hope. His absence has left the American people concerned, and while his break was much needed, it’s rewarding to see his words once again calling out those who are wrong and offering support to those who need it.
