Anger as Trump ends amnesty for 800,000 young immigrants

President Donald Trump on Tuesday ended an amnesty for 800,000 people brought illegally to the United States as minors, throwing their future in serious doubt and triggering fierce condemnation from across the political spectrum, reports AFP from Washington.

Business leaders, unions, religious groups, opposition Democrats and many within Trump’s own ruling Republican party joined forces to criticize the phased end of protections for people who arrived in the United States under the age of 16.

So-called “Dreamers”—many Hispanic, now in their twenties and having known no other country except the United States—will have somewhere between six and around 24 months before they become illegal and subject to potential deportation.

“This is the only country I know,” said Ivan Ceja, a 26-year-old computer science student and immigrant rights advocate who arrived in the country as a baby.

“My future is here. I’m not going to go without a fight.”

Trump later insisted he had “great heart for the folks we are talking about, a great love for them” and called on Congress to pass wide-ranging immigration reform—something lawmakers have tried and failed to do for decades.

“I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act,” said the president.

Trump had argued that the amnesty introduced by Barack Obama in 2012 was an unconstitutional overreach of presidential powers and would likely be struck down by the courts eventually.

Amid a smattering of street protests across the country, the announcement prompted ex-president Obama to make a rare re-entry onto the political stage.

In a break with the usual pact of presidential decorum, Obama decried the decision as “wrong,” “self-defeating” and “cruel.”

“Let’s be clear: the action taken today isn’t required legally. It’s a political decision, and a moral question.”

‘Fair to American families’ -

Around 800,000 people took up the offer to get two year renewable permits under the DACA scheme, but a similar number opted to stay in the shadows largely because of uncertainty over policy once Obama left office.

Trump, who ran for office on a hard-right immigration and law and order platform, painted his decision as an effort to put natural-born Americans first.

“Before we ask what is fair to illegal immigrants, we must also ask what is fair to American families, students, taxpayers, and jobseekers,” he said.

Anger as Trump ends amnesty for 800,000 young immigrants

President Donald Trump on Tuesday ended an amnesty for 800,000 people brought illegally to the United States as minors, throwing their future in serious doubt and triggering fierce condemnation from across the political spectrum, reports AFP from Washington. Business leaders, unions, religious groups, opposition Democrats and many within Trumps own ruling Republican party joined forces to criticize the phased end of protections for people who arrived in the United States under the age of 16. So-called Dreamersmany Hispanic, now in their twenties and having known no other country except the United Stateswill have somewhere between six and around 24 months before they become illegal and subject to potential deportation. This is the only country I know, said Ivan Ceja, a 26-year-old computer science student and immigrant rights advocate who arrived in the country as a baby. My future is here. Im not going to go without a fight. Trump later insisted he had great heart for the folks we are talking about, a great love for them and called on Congress to pass wide-ranging immigration reformsomething lawmakers have tried and failed to do for decades. I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act, said the president. Trump had argued that the amnesty introduced by Barack Obama in 2012 was an unconstitutional overreach of presidential powers and would likely be struck down by the courts eventually. Amid a smattering of street protests across the country, the announcement prompted ex-president Obama to make a rare re-entry onto the political stage. In a break with the usual pact of presidential decorum, Obama decried the decision as wrong, self-defeating and cruel. Lets be clear: the action taken today isnt required legally. Its a political decision, and a moral question. Fair to American families - Around 800,000 people took up the offer to get two year renewable permits under the DACA scheme, but a similar number opted to stay in the shadows largely because of uncertainty over policy once Obama left office. Trump, who ran for office on a hard-right immigration and law and order platform, painted his decision as an effort to put natural-born Americans first. Before we ask what is fair to illegal immigrants, we must also ask what is fair to American families, students, taxpayers, and jobseekers, he said.