President Trump is expected to end the unconstitutional Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program first instituted by President Obama in 2012. Fearing substantial backlash from illegal immigrants, the radical Left and countless other Americans, a handful of conservative lawmakers are seeking to soften the blow by drafting their own “conservative DREAM act.”
The McClatchy Washington Bureau reports that Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) is crafting a bill that functionally serves a similiar policy prescription as President Obama attempted to create with DACA without using the executive branch as the kingpin in its implementation. McClatchy described it as follows:
The proposal would grant high school graduates without a serious criminal record conditional immigration status for a five-year period. During that time, if they earn a higher-education degree, serve in the military or stay employed, they could apply for permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship.
This program would only be eligible for illegal immigrants who arrived in this country as children prior to January 1, 2012 and were 16 years old and older, making 2.5 million “Dreamers” eligible for this program. The logic behind crafting this bill is to take advantage of President Trump’s own personal views that let some of these immigrants remain in the country while simultaneously fulfilling a promise to his base to curb illegal immigration.
Unlike Obama’s attempt to impose DACA, Tillis’ plan would be consistent with the powers delegated in the United States Constitution. Furthermore, it seemed like the Senate was gearing up for an immigration fight after Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said that he wanted to meet with fellow Gang of Eight member Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to discuss the issue.
However, there will likely be extensive opposition coming from the Republican base, which remains vexed over lack of progress on the notorious “wall” and which has openly supported ICE’s latest campaign to deport illegal immigrants with violent criminal records.