Congress will cover for Trump on DACA termination
Significance Trump announced on September 5 that his administration would phase out over the next six months the DACA programme, which protects undocumented migrants brought to the United States as children (known colloquially as ‘Dreamers’) from deportation and allows them to apply for renewable residency permits. While praised by immigration hardliners within the Republican caucus, many of the president’s party criticised the decision to add to the packed legislative calendar through the end of the year and heighten uncertainty for the estimated 790,000 DACA enrolees. Impacts Opposition from the agricultural lobby and large corporations will stifle Senator Tom Cotton’s plan to halve legal immigration. Trump’s deal with the Democrats on spending and borrowing through December will increase the minority’s leverage in DACA talks. Tackling DACA’s replacement and averting a December shutdown will sap congressional efforts to pass tax reform. Lawsuits from pro-DACA states and municipalities may slow DACA’s termination, but are unlikely to preserve it outright.