McConnell praises Trump for ending DACA

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) praised President Trump’s decision to rescind President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, calling it a move that “corrects that fundamental mistake.”

“President Obama wrongly believed he had the authority to re-write our immigration law,” McConnell said in a statement Tuesday. “Today’s action by President Trump corrects that fundamental mistake.” 

“This Congress will continue working on securing our border and ensuring a lawful system of immigration that works.”

{mosads}Unlike House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), McConnell did not call for Congress to take up legislative action on DACA, which provides work permits to certain young people who entered the U.S. illegally as minors.

Ryan and a number of lawmakers in both parties have said Congress should take action to ensure people benefiting under the program do not face deportation in the future.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Tuesday that Trump will rescind the program, but Congress would have an opportunity to step in. As the program winds down, some DACA recipients could continue to have benefits for as long as two years.

Ryan has called for Congress to pass permanent legislation to extend protects for those under the program.

“It is my hope that the House and Senate, with the president’s leadership, will be able to find consensus on a permanent legislative solution that includes ensuring that those who have done nothing wrong can still contribute as a valued part of this great country,” Ryan said in a statement.