U.S. will issue proposal to preserve program for 'Dreamer' immigrants: DHS

[March 27, 2021]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Friday it will issue a proposed rule to preserve and fortify a program for immigrants, nicknamed "Dreamers," who are living illegally in the United States after entering as children.

A delegation of Republican and Democratic lawmakers traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border with two differing messages on Friday. Republicans, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, blamed Biden for the unfolding crisis. Democrat Ilhan Omar said she could relate to the migrants’ plight. Gavino Garay has more.

President Joe Biden issued a memo on Jan. 20, his first day in office, that directed the agency and the U.S. attorney general to maintain the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects Dreamer immigrants from deportation.

"We are taking action to preserve and fortify DACA. This is in keeping with the President's memorandum," Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement.

"It is an important step, but only the passage of legislation can give full protection and a path to citizenship to the Dreamers who know the U.S. as their home," he said.

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives last week passed a bill providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, but the legislation faces an uncertain future in the deeply divided Senate.

DACA was created by Democratic former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as vice president. Republican former President Donald Trump had tried to end the program.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Leslie Adler)

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