Delaware joined more than a dozen other states in fighting a decision by the Trump Administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The administration has given Congress six months to come up with a solution for the immigrants that are known as “Dreamers.”
Otherwise, nearly 800,000 young people, who as children were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents, could be forced to leave the country.
DACA was implemented by an executive order from President Obama as part of an effort to push through immigration reform.
Immigration authorities would have addresses and other information that could be used in deportations.
The states suing the administration, headed by New York State, have Democratic governors. Other “Red” states been on the other side in filing suit to end the program.
The suit was filed in New York State.
The suit calls the action the “culmination of President’s Trump’s oft-stated commitment – whether personally held, stated to appease some portion of his constituency, or some combination thereof – to punish and disparage people with Mexican roots. The consequence of the President’s animus-driven decision is that approximately 800,000 persons who have availed themselves of the program will ultimately lose its protections, and will be exposed to removal when their authorizations expire and they cannot seek renewal.”
Critics of the decision have cited economic losses, since many of those registered under DACA are employed, with some holding key positions.
“Rescinding DACA will result in disruptions in each of these fields, as companies and non-profits will be forced to terminate qualified and trained employees who have lost employment authorization. One expert estimates that rescinding the DACA program will cost New York State $38.6 billion over the next ten years,” the suit stated.
Delaware has been active in supporting Dreamers, with Delaware State University launching a successful scholarship program.
“With full private support for tuition and room and board from TheDream.Us, our first cohort of Dreamers, 34 in total, earned a 3.7 GPA, took no less than 15 credit hours per semester and returned to our university for their sophomore year. With the newest class of 46 students this year, there are a total of 75 who are now full-fledged Hornets, and from them we are expecting even more,” DSU stated.
