Pelosi said expected move “should break the hearts and offend the morals of all who believe in justice and human dignity.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Monday blasted President Trump’s reported decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, saying the expected move “should break the hearts and offend the morals of all who believe in justice and human dignity.”
“This cruel act of political cowardice deals a stunning blow to the bright young DREAMers and to everyone who cherishes the American Dream, ” Pelosi said in a statement, using the term “DREAMers” to refer to DACA recipients, as is common.
Politico reported on Sunday that Trump plans to end DACA with a six-month delay. DACA temporarily prevents people who came to the U. S. illegally as children and meet certain other requirements from being deported.
Pelosi said it was odd that Trump “has chosen to pardon someone who shares his anti-immigrant views, [former Arizona] Sheriff [Joe] Arpaio, who was convicted, while punishing young children who are innocent.” Arpaio had been convicted of contempt for violating a court order in a racial profiling case, but Trump pardoned him last month.
Pelosi also said that Congress should take prompt action to help DACA recipients.
“House Republicans must join Democrats to pass legislation to safeguard our young DREAMers from the senseless cruelty of deportation and shield families from separation and heartbreak, ” she said. “Democrats will stand firm with DREAMers and redouble our efforts to protect our nation’s families from the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda.”
