Trump Dismantles DACA Protections for Immigrants

(5 Sep 2017) PROTESTS ERUPTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TUESDAY AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S DECISION TO DISMANTLE THE DACA PROGRAM -- DEALING A SERIOUS BLOW TO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG IMMIGRANTS WHO WERE BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY AS CHILDREN. SOUNDBITE: Jeff Sessions, Attorney General: "I'm here today to announce that the program known as DACA that was effectuated under the Obama administration is being rescinded." SESSIONS SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS GIVING CONGRESS SIX MONTHS TO COME UP WITH A LEGISLATIVE FIX BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT STOPS RENEWING PERMITS FOR PEOPLE ALREADY COVERED BY THE PROGRAM. SOUNDBITE: Jeff Sessions, Attorney General: "To have a lawful system of immigration that serves the national interest, we cannot admit everyone who would like to come here. Its just that simple." THE PROGAM CREATED BY FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA HAS GIVEN NEARLY 800-THOUSAND YOUNG IMMIGRANTS - KNOWN AS DREAMERS - REPRIEVE FROM DEPORATION AND THE ABILITY TO WORK LEGALLY IN THE U.S. WHILE RUNNIING FOR OFFICE, CANDIDATE TRUMP PLEDGED TO END DACA, SLAMMING IT AS ILLEGAL AMNESTY. BUT HE HAS REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE PROTECTED BY IT AND HAS SPENT THE PAST FEW MONTHS WRESTLING WITH THE FUTURE OF THE PROGRAM. SOUNDBITE: President Donald Trump: "I have a love for these people and hopefully, now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly." THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SAYS UNDER THIS DECISION, PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORK PERMITS THROUGH DACA WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE U.S. UNTIL THOSE PERMITS EXPIRE. THOSE WHO HAVE PERMITS EXPIRING BEFORE MARCH 2018 WILL BE ABLE TO REAPPLY - SO LONG AS THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE SUBMITTED BY OCTOBER 5TH. ANY APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER SEPTEMBER 5TH WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. (Nats up) DREAMERS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS TAKING TO THE STREETS FROM COAST TO COAST, SAYING THEY'RE FRIGHTENED BUT INSISTING THEIR FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER. SOUNDBITE: Monica Camacho-Perez, DACA Recipient: "I'm scared and anxious and nervous to not know what's going to happen." SOUNDBITE: Erika Andiola, DACA Recipient: "And we're sitting here all DACA recipients to show Trump that we're not going to be afraid of him, that we're tired of him attacking us." OBAMA WEIGHED IN WITH A STATEMENT TUESDAY AFTERNOON, CALLING TRUMP'S DECISION "CRUEL" AND "SELF-DEFEATING." AND HE URGED CONGRESS TO - QUOTE - "STEP UP" AND OFFER PERMANENT PROTECTION FOR THE DREAMERS. BUT WHILE MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO FIND A SOLUTION, CONGRESS HAS REPEATEDLY TRIED - AND FAILED - TO REACH ANY AGREEMENT ON IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION. IF IT CAN'T COME UP WITH A FIX BY MARCH, THOUSANDS OF PREVIOUSLY PROTECTED IMMIGRANTS COULD FIND THEMSELVES DEPORTED TO COUNTRIES THEY'VE NEVER CALLED HOME. KELLY DASCHLE, ASSOCIATED PRESS. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...