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ABC News has learned that President Donald Trump plans to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration (DACA) policy, according to two administration officials.
According to two administration officials, here’s the policy to be announced later today:
The administration won't consider new applications for legal status dated after Sept. 5.
If you are not already protected by the program, you are out of luck, although applications filed before Tuesday that are pending will continue to be processed.
Anyone who has a DACA permit expiring between now and March 5, 2018, can apply for a two-year renewal. That application must be submitted by Oct. 5.
Some Dreamers, those with permits that expire between now and March 5, will be eligible for legal status for another two-plus years. For others, legal status ends as early as March 6.
But officials insist that even if Congress fails to enact new protection for the Dreamers, they will not be rounded up and deported. Officials say the priority for deportation will continue to be undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions will hold a briefing today at the Department of Justice to make the announcement on the DACA program, which protects nearly 800,000 people from deportation.
DACA allows individuals who entered the U.S. prior to their 16th birthday to register to remain in the country, provided they pay a fee and meet certain requirements related to their education and criminal record. Those accepted under the policy may stay for renewable periods and are eligible for work permits.
What we know about the nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants protected by DACA
What you need to know about DACA
The White House said repeatedly that the decision was one Trump was not taking lightly.
“The president's priorities on immigration are to create a system that encourages legal immigration and benefits our economy and American workers,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Friday. “The president's been very clear he loves people and he wants to make sure that this decision is done correctly.”
The president further expressed that he believed it would be a difficult choice to end the policy.
"We love the Dreamers," said Trump from the Oval Office on Friday. "We love everybody."
Trump told ABC News' David Muir in January that those covered by the program "shouldn't be very worried" and that they're "going to take care of everybody."
"I do have a big heart," said Trump at the time on the matter.
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Last edited by godsavethequeen; 09-05-2017 at 08:46 AM..