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.”
