Trump ends DACA, but calls on Congress to push amnesty

UPDATE: Trump has made it crystal clear he wants amnesty, see the update below.

Donald Trump has ended DACA, Barack Obama's amnesty-by-fiat for hundreds of thousands of "DREAMers".

That's OK as far as it goes, but Trump is also beginning to push amnesty.

Trump is giving Congress six months to come up with legislation involving DREAMers, and we know what that means: making DACA permanent in one way or another. See the DREAM Act page for extensive discussions on past attempts to push an anti-American bill that would legalize DREAMers.

Given how incredibly weak Trump is on the immigration issue, it's hard to see him vetoing some version of the DREAM Act, especially if it has a link to funding for Trump Wall and other measures Trump supports such as the RAISE Act and increased vetting.

Based on all the dumb, unpatriotic things Trump has done already, the idea that he'd trade amnesty for enforcement is highly likely. Trump and his advisers clearly aren't capable of understanding the issues raised at the last link, since those advisers have been pushing Trump to do it.

Obviously, Trump supporters will disagree. They'll dodge and weave, making excuse after excuse and living in a fantasy world where Trump knows what he's doing and will put the USA's best interests first. Then, when the day comes and Trump is ready to sign an amnesty bill, they'll pretend it's the best thing and that Trump had no choice. In fact, there's a much better alternative discussed at the last link. It wouldn't involve amnesty, and it would help both the USA and Mexico.

Yet, instead of pushing such a plan, Trump is pushing Congress to come up with amnesty. Could that be a trick by Trump to get Congress on the record supporting amnesty? It wouldn't be much of a trick since most of Congress is already on record supporting that. Trump's own VP Mike Pence even had his own amnesty plan.

Plus, in his announcement, Trump supports "immigration reform". That phrase is often used to refer to comprehensive immigration reform, aka amnesty. In the announcement, Trump doesn't oppose mass legalization and doesn't even hint at the many downsides of mass legalization.

If Trump proxies and supporters enable what Trump's doing, then they're setting the USA up for amnesty just like Trump is.

Parts of Trump's announcement at at [1] and fact sheet are at [2], bolding added. Nothing in either document rules out or opposes mass legalization.

UPDATE: About 6 hours after this was posted, Trump tweeted [3] this:

Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama Administration was unable to do). If they can't, I will revisit this issue!

You'd have to be a sucker of the highest order not to realize that Trump is saying: "either legalize DREAMers or I will". Someone who actually opposed amnesty would never say such a thing under any circumstances.

It's time for Trump supporters to finally put the USA first.

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[1] From whitehouse · gov/the-press-office/2017/09/05/statement-president-donald-j-trump:

..As President, my highest duty is to defend the American people and the Constitution of the United States of America. At the same time, I do not favor punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents...

In June of 2012, President Obama bypassed Congress to give work permits, social security numbers, and federal benefits to approximately 800,000 illegal immigrants currently between the ages of 15 and 36. The typical recipients of this executive amnesty, known as DACA, are in their twenties. Legislation offering these same benefits had been introduced in Congress on numerous occasions and rejected each time...

...There can be no path to principled immigration reform if the executive branch is able to rewrite or nullify federal laws at will...

The temporary implementation of DACA by the Obama Administration, after Congress repeatedly rejected this amnesty-first approach, also helped spur a humanitarian crisis – the massive surge of unaccompanied minors from Central America...

...While new applications for work permits will not be accepted, all existing work permits will be honored until their date of expiration up to two full years from today. Furthermore, applications already in the pipeline will be processed, as will renewal applications for those facing near-term expiration. This is a gradual process, not a sudden phase out. Permits will not begin to expire for another six months, and will remain active for up to 24 months. Thus, in effect, I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act.

...I have advised the Department of Homeland Security that DACA recipients are not enforcement priorities unless they are criminals, are involved in criminal activity, or are members of a gang...

...Congress now has the opportunity to advance responsible immigration reform that puts American jobs and American security first. We are facing the symptom of a larger problem, illegal immigration, along with the many other chronic immigration problems Washington has left unsolved. We must reform our green card system, which now favors low-skilled immigration and puts immense strain on U.S. taxpayers. We must base future immigration on merit – we want those coming into the country to be able to support themselves financially, to contribute to our economy, and to love our country and the values it stands for. Under a merit-based system, citizens will enjoy higher employment, rising wages, and a stronger middle class. Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue have introduced the RAISE Act, which would establish this merit-based system and produce lasting gains for the American People...

...As I've said before, we will resolve the DACA issue with heart and compassion – but through the lawful Democratic process – while at the same time ensuring that any immigration reform we adopt provides enduring benefits for the American citizens we were elected to serve. We must also have heart and compassion for unemployed, struggling, and forgotten Americans.

Above all else, we must remember that young Americans have dreams too. Being in government means setting priorities. Our first and highest priority in advancing immigration reform must be to improve jobs, wages and security for American workers and their families.

It is now time for Congress to act!

[2] The fact sheet "President Donald J. Trump Restores Responsibility and the Rule of Law to Immigration" is at
whitehouse · gov/the-press-office/2017/09/05/president-donald-j-trump-restores-responsibility-and-rule-law

It starts with this quote:

“I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: To improve jobs and wages for Americans; to strengthen our nation's security; and to restore respect for our laws.” – President Donald J. Trump

Then it includes points like:

Under the change announced today, current DACA recipients generally will not be impacted until after March 5, 2018, six months from now. That period of time gives Congress the opportunity to consider appropriate legislative solutions.

DHS's enforcement priorities remain in place. However, absent a law enforcement interest - which is largely the standard that has been in place since the inception of the program - the Department will generally not take actions to remove active DACA recipients.

Renewal applications for DACA Employment Authorization Documents properly filed and accepted by October 5, 2017, for people whose current Employment Authorization Documents expire between today and March 5, 2018, will be processed.

President Trump's highest obligation is to uphold the laws of the United States. So long as the unlawful policies of the previous Administration remain - especially those that incentivize further illegal immigration - there is no realistic chance of achieving principled pro-worker immigration reform.

His priorities include:

* Controlling the Border: President Trump intends to secure the southwest border with a border wall and a robust law enforcement presence on the border.
* Improving Vetting and Immigration Security: Our immigration system, including our asylum and refugee system, make the United States potentially exposed to terrorist and public safety threats. We need to improve vetting and set limits that allow for proper vetting.
* Enforcing Our Laws: President Trump supports the swift removal of those who illegally enter the United States or violate the conditions of their visas.
* Protecting Our Workers: President Trump is working to encourage companies to raise wages and recruit American workers. This means stopping the practice of hiring illegal workers who unlawfully deprive American workers of jobs and higher wages.
* Establishing a Merit-Based System for Entry: President Trump supports efforts to prioritize immigrants based on skills and thereby prevent the displacement of American workers.

The list of priorities isn't a big departure from something George W Bush or Barack Obama would have said. They and others stress tough enforcement in order to make the amnesty go down easier; see secure the border.

Amnesty supporters have a solution for "hiring illegal workers": just legalize them. How that wouldn't work is described on the immigration wage floor page.

[3] twitter · com/realDonaldTrump/status/905228667336499200