Congress has had plenty of time to do something about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and they have done nothing, so now is there chance, former Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., said Tuesday.
During an interview with J.D. Hayworth on Newsmax TV, Tancredo was asked about President Donald Trump's decision to end the DACA program six months from now — which gives lawmakers time to cobble together more permanent legislation on the matter.
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"Congress has had five years to do something about this, to make it something other than a stop-gap measure, if they want to, or to revoke what [former President Barack Obama] did," Tancredo said. "And of course, there are 10 governors I think now – at least – that are wanting to sue on that basis and say, 'this is illegal.' And it is – it's unconstitutional."
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Tuesday the DACA program will be rescinded, citing the need to follow the law. Obama signed executive orders five years ago to begin the policy, which allowed children who illegally came to the U.S. with their parents to stay under certain criteria.
Somewhere around 800,000 people have benefitted from the program.
Tancredo said he doubts lawmakers in Washington will be able to come to an agreement on legislation that would potentially allow DACA recipients to stay in the U.S. permanently.
"The Democrats are demanding a 'clean bill,'" Tancredo said. "What does that mean? Well you and I know what that means, it means amnesty.
"The Republicans are left with an option and that is to essentially say, 'OK, they can stay, but no pathway to citizenship,' which they would consider to not be amnesty, right? But the Democrats will never accept that. It's why, I say, I think there's going to be a lot of talk, a lot of fist-banging on the table about this, but at the end, I don't think anything's going to happen."
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