|
DACA stands for Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals and allows
people who came to the U.S. illegally as children to stay.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the
Obama administration did not have the authority to institute the
program.
In a statement, President Joe Biden called the decision
“unlawful” and urged Congress to make permanent legislative
protections to help more than 600,000 immigrants currently
protected by DACA.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Tuesday that Democrats will
try to pass legislation protecting the immigrants during the
Senate lame-duck session.
Durbin said the appeals court sent the case back to an
“unfriendly judge in Texas” for further proceedings, so Congress
must act.
“Let's be very honest and not make any pretense about this, we
need 60 votes in the Senate, we need ten Republicans, we need
them to come around,” said Durbin.
The three judge panel did not dismantle the DACA program. The
ruling means no new applicants will be processed, and those
already enrolled are still protected from removal.
Illinois 13th Congressional District Republican candidate Regan
Deering, who is facing Democrat Nicki Budzinski in the November
election, said immigration reform should be a top priority.
“I will definitely have a seat at that table,” Deering said. “We
will talk about outcomes and policies that will in fact, make
everyone feel welcome here and have a path to citizenship when
it's appropriate.”
Several Republican-led states have sued the federal government
over the DACA program. Governors allege the program negatively
impacts their local economies as they have to cover the costs
for DACA recipients' healthcare and education.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
|
|
