Arizona undocumented youth in jeopardy if Trump ends DACA
Aug 28, 2017, 3:49 AM | Updated: Aug 30, 2017, 2:09 pm
A woman holds up a signs in support of the Obama administration program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, during an immigration reform rally, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
PHOENIX — In less than a week, undocumented youth in Arizona who are under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program may be in trouble.
Attorney generals from 10 states are threatening to sue if the Trump Administration does not end DACA, a program that allows undocumented youth to stay and work in the United States, by Sept. 5.
Arizona is not among the 10 states threatening to sue, but Rep. Ruben Gallego said he and other Democrats have a plan ready to go if Trump ends the program.
“If it comes to that point, we’re going to try to force a vote on the floor to pass the DREAM Act,” Gallego said.
The DREAM Act would pave a path to citizenship to undocumented youth immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the legislation last month.
Gallego said they would use a rare procedure called a discharge petition to override House Speaker Paul Ryan and bring the DREAM Act to the House floor for a vote. He said they would need at least 24 Republicans to sign the discharge petition to force the vote.
“If the president ends up protecting DACA, then we don’t have to do it,” he said. “If he does, then we go with that plan.”
Nearly 28,000 undocumented youth immigrants have been approved for the DACA program in Arizona.
As a presidential candidate, Trump promised to immediately end the DACA program. White House officials said he’s seriously considering ending the program.
