South Dakota’s congressional delegation say they support President Donald Trump’s decision to reverse the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
State Democrats and ACLU officials are calling on South Dakota’s representatives to support legislation that protects those who face possible deportation…
There are over 550 DACA recipients in South Dakota, according to the US Citizen and Immigration Services. Their fate remains uncertain over the next 6 months as the Trump Administration rolls back the DACA program established by the Obama Administration in 2012.
The program gave individuals who were brought to the country illegally as children protection from deportation, but not outright citizenship.
DACA will wind down over the next six months, giving Congress a window to act on immigration reform.
Congresswoman Kristi Noem: “President Obama’s DACA rule was unconstitutional, and President Trump was right to restore the constitutional balance of power. I believe our first responsibility is to secure the border, which is why I voted to fully support President Trump’s border wall proposal. Once our border is secure, we can better identify the needs of our immigration system, ensuring safety, income and opportunity for Americans remains the first priority.”
Senator John Thune: “The DACA program is a perfect example of the Obama administration’s repeated executive overreach, and it was never a tenable, constitutional, or long-term solution to the immigration challenges in this country. I believe now, as I did when this Obama-era order was first implemented, that Congress, not the president alone, must play a role in reforming our immigration system. I look forward to working with my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, as we work toward a meaningful and responsible path forward that reforms the system, secures our borders, and prioritizes national security.”
Senator Mike Rounds: “President Obama’s unilateral decision to implement DACA, a dramatic change in our immigration policy, was a gross overreach of executive power. With today’s announcement, the administration is appropriately returning this significant policy decision to its rightful place: with Congress. Our immigration policy is long overdue for reform, and it is the duty of Congress to address the immediate issues surrounding these individuals impacted by President Obama’s decision. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on legislation that will address these issues and secure our borders.”
State Democrats: "We will continue to work to fix our broken immigration system, and the most important step in doing that is supporting the DREAMers who are contributing to our nation's economy - including over $12 million in South Dakota alone - and were brought to this country by no fault of their own. We urge Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds and Rep. Kristi Noem to act and support legislation in Congress to protect our DREAMers and keep our communities safe.”