President Trump made ending DACA one of the first things he would do if elected president. He dithered for more than six months before partially fulfilling his promise; however, he didn't have the gumption to announce his decision on DACA by himself but farmed it out to the attorney general. He then handed the hot potato over to Congress, and then, as with many other issues, he gave no guidance as to how Congress should work out the details. Conveniently, Trump will have Congress to blame if nothing constructive is done.
Trump said he had a "love for these people and, hopefully, now Congress will be able to help them, nor do it properly." By saying that, Trump made a tacit admission that he couldn't help them, nor do it properly.
Trump's handing off DACA to Congress comes with a major caveat: If Congress can't do the job with DACA, Trump will revisit the issue. Trump has given no indication of what he means by "revisit" and thus has created uncertainty in Congress. If Congress decides to allow the Dreamers to stay in the United States and/or provides a legal path to citizenship, Trump can either sign the bill and break a crucial campaign promise, or veto it and risk an override.
President Trump has shown extreme cruelty in his treatment of the DACA matter by telling Dreamers early this year that they can "rest easy" about their status. Now he has put them in a very anxious state about what might happen to them some six months into the future. Trump's harsh rhetoric in the campaign about the harm Dreamers were causing to the country and the subsequent anxiety he has raised among them is a far remove from expressions of love. When you have denigrated whole categories of people, how can you be perceived as credible when you say you love everyone in a large category of people?
Most economists believe that reducing immigration will significantly hurt economic growth for years. Deporting the Dreamers will reduce GDP and reduce FICA taxes that fund Social Security. Dreamers are too young to receive Social Security benefits, with the possible exception of disability payments. The Center for American Progress reports that 87 percent of beneficiaries are using their work permits and 83 percent of those in school are also working.
Conservative blogger Jennifer Rubin has, I believe, the most succinct and accurate reaction to Trump's DACA decision: "Some in the media take seriously the notion that he is 'conflicted' or 'wrestling' with the [DACA] decision, as though Trump was engaged in a great moral debate." "That would be a first for Trump, who counts only winners and losers, never bothering with moral principles or democratic norms. The debate, if there is one, is over whether to disappoint his rabid anti-immigrant base or to, as is his inclination, double down on a losing hand."
Rep. Ideana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) tweeted: "After teasing #Dreamers for months with the tale of his 'great heart,' slams down on them. Some 'heart.' "
ADDEDNDUM:
*The recent statement by Sarah Hucklebee Sanders that President Trump will donate $1 million of his "personal" money to Harvey relief may not be accurate. Sanders cannot say whether the donation will come from Trump personally or will come from his foundation. Foundation funding has a restriction against "self-serving" distributions and Trump would be violating that provision if he doesn't make the donation with a personal check.
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