Key points in this article:

• Trump is being slammed for his decision to end DACA
• Trump’s decision was made to realize a legislative act that Obama failed to do
• Trump is trying to protect the country and its people, to bring to life the American Dream

 
Trump faces criticism for his recently announced decision to rescind DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), the immigration policy allowing under aged illegal immigrants to remain in the country for a renewable 2-year period.

DACA was a policy established by the Obama administration in 2012 aimed at minors who immigrated illegally along with their parents. If the child cleared certain criteria, he or she was given a renewable 2-year period to be allowed to work in the U.S.

On the 5th of September Trump finally decided to terminate this policy after 6 months of postponing the announcement, and proposed to Congress an alternative plan.

This article will look at why Trump decided to end DACA, and what philosophy he holds regarding immigrants.

DACA Was Terminated To Clean Up Obama’s Mess

The media reports make it seem like Trump is trying to deport innocent immigrant children, but in truth it is the opposite. He is trying to attain Congressional approval to formally legislate DACA.

Obama’s DACA was passed as an Executive Order without Congress approval, and was actually a temporary step that had no legal authority. Barrack Obama himself, who is now criticizing Trump, explained at the outset that DACA was “not a permanent fix” but “a temporary stop-gap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope”. In other words, Obama did not have the courage to do what was necessary the DACA protections to become permanent.
Trump is trying to tie up Obama’s loose ends. Obama has slammed Trump on his Facebook account for the “cruel” decision; but the truth is Obama should be, if anything, thanking Trump.

Trump Protects The People, The Country and The American Dream

While the DACA decision has sparked fierce debate, Trump’s answer is crystal clear. Below is a summary of what Trump has been saying through his tweets and White House statements:

Children who immigrate illegally with their parents are innocent, and it is illogical to deport them if they are engaged in work or the military inside the U.S. But it is the laws of this country that enable it to be the place of opportunity it now is. This means that DACA must be legislated as a law with Congressional approval. Additionally, stronger border security is required to protect the people of this country.

Let us actually follow Trump’s statements.

On the 5th of September when he announced his DACA decision, Trump issued the following statement
“As President, my highest duty is to defend the American people and the Constitution of the United States of America. At the same time, I do not favor punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents. But we must also recognize that we are nation of opportunity because we are a nation of laws.

The legislative branch, not the executive branch, writes these laws – this is the bedrock of our Constitutional system, which I took a solemn oath to preserve, protect, and defend.”

The same day he tweeted, “Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama Administration was unable to do). If they can’t, I will revisit this issue!”

On the 13th of September, Trump spoke with 2 of the leaders of the Democratic Party over dinner and announced the following day that both parties had agreed to strengthen border security, which was a condition for agreement to advance the DACA legislation.

The same day, Trump tweeted “Does anybody really want to throw out good, educated and accomplished young people who have jobs, some serving in the military? . . . They have been in our country for many years through no fault of their own – brought in by parents at young age. Plus BIG border security.”

Many people criticize Trump for being racist, but the truth is he is far from it. Trump sees that problems will arise if DACA is not legislated, and has taken steps toward that in order to provide the hard working immigrants with certainty and security.

We must all have the wisdom to look past the sensationalism that has overtaken the media’s coverage of Trump.