The new Trump administration offered confusing messages about immigration in its first few days in office. The Inaugural Address took a harsh tone on immigrants, and of course, President Trump promised a month ago to end the DACA program that benefits 750,000 young immigrants on his first day in office. We are now four days into the administration, but so far no actions have been taken.
Chris Wallace of Fox News discussed the President’s Chief of Staff Reince Priebus about the fate of the DACA beneficiaries on Fox News Sunday:
WALLACE: Let’s turn to what he’s going to actually be doing this week. Monday, he says it’s his first full day of work, although he’s already done quite a lot already. What — do you know what executive actions he’s going to sign tomorrow and this week? And specifically, and is he going to undo DACA, the Obama executive action to defer deportation for the 700,000 so-called DREAMers who were brought into this country illegally as children?
PRIEBUS: Well, on the last one, I think we’re going to work with House and Senate leadership as well to get a long-term solution on that issue, but —
WALLACE: So, you won’t undo DACA until —
PRIEBUS: I’m not going to make any commitments to you, but I’ve, you know, I’m obviously foreshadowed there a little bit. But I think this week, we’re going to talk about trade. I think we’re going to talk about that a little bit more tomorrow. I think we’re going to talk about immigration this week and we’re going to have a time of national security, a conversation about that, obviously, with General Mattis.
WALLACE: Will he undo some of the Obama executive orders?
PRIEBUS: I think you’re going to see more of that coming, perhaps this week. Executive orders on those three topics. Thursday, we’re expecting to make an appearance at the Senate House Leadership Conference in Philadelphia.
As per the conversation, we still don’t know what will happen. Many legal services are already getting calls from DACA recipients telling us that their employers are talking to them about laying them off when the announcement comes. However, Priebus seems uncertain about when or how the Executive Order ending DACA will be signed by President Trump.
Long Island Wins will cover this story as it breaks.
