This Friday Trump has once again put on edge the future of nearly 800,000 Dreamers, as he announces on Twitter that there will be no more DACA if Congress does not agree to substantial funding of the wall between the U.S and Mexico. Trump stated “The Democrats have been told, and fully understand, that there can be no DACA without the desperately needed WALL at the Southern Border and an END to the horrible Chain Migration & Ridiculous Lottery system of Immigration etc. We must protect our Country at all cost!”
Six months ago, Sessions announced Trump’s Decision to end DACA, also known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. DACA was established by the Obama administration in June of 2012. It gave the opportunity for any student who had arrived to the U.S as a child, that is came to the U.S before reaching their 16th birthday and were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, and met specific guidelines that proved they were in good standing as a citizen and as a student, to receive a work permit that is renewable every two years. Trump allowed Congress 6 months to act and save the Dreamers from peril.
During the course of these 6 months, lobbying and meetings have occurred to discuss prospective DACA deals. One deal that was presented by leadership, including House speaker Paul Ryan, and that is very similar to Trump’s ultimatum, required Congress to fund the wall in exchange for Amnesty for the Dreamers. This deal was quickly rejected. Then later in September a second deal was presented by Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, and nearly signed, that exchanged beefing up border security in exchange for Amnesty for the Dreamers, but later fell through, as Trump stated he wanted more than just beefing up the border.
Before Trump’s statement this Friday, less than 25% of Republicans agree with substantial funding for the wall, and 69% of Republicans, on top of Democrats, agree on allowing Dreamers to stay in the U.S according to a USA Today survey and a Morning Consult poll in September of this year. This may change though, as Jan 3rd comes up and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D- N.Y.) meet with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to avert a government shutdown and discuss the fate of nearly 800,000 Dreamers. For now, the Dreamers have no option but to await their fate, and hope they aren’t part of collateral damage.