Trump administration leaves ‘dreamer’ shield in place

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly announced late Thursday that the Trump administration would not eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, despite the president’s campaign promises. DACA temporarily shields from deportation immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. Many spent almost their entire lives in the United States and have no recognition of their parents’ home countries. During the campaign, President Donald Trump pledged to “immediately terminate President Obama’s two illegal executive amnesties.” The second program, known as DAPA, shielded from deportation immigrant parents of U.S. citizens and legal residents but has been on hold since a Texas court issued an injunction against it. On Thursday, Kelly said the administration would end DAPA but keep DACA, which now includes about 787,000 immigrants. In April, Trump said “dreamers should rest easy” because the administration only planned to go after criminals.

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