Congressional Republicans Defy Bipartisan Support on DACA, Following Trump's Lead

Congressional Republicans are following President Trump's lead on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, despite bipartisan support in Congress for a permanent solution. The program, created in 2012 to protect children who arrived in the country illegally prior to 2007 from deportation, now benefits around half a million people. Congressional Republicans are waiting on President Trump to signal he is ready to negotiate a permanent solution, according to Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla. "We need the president to take the lead on this," Salazar said in an interview. "We have a majority of Democrats and some Republicans who support a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients." However, other Republican lawmakers disagree with Salazar's assessment. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has been a vocal supporter of Trump's immigration policies and has expressed skepticism about providing a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. "I don't think we should be giving amnesty to people who have broken the law," Graham said in a statement. "We need to focus on securing our borders and enforcing our laws." The bipartisan support for a permanent solution is evident in several bills introduced in Congress, including the American Dream and Promise Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. The bill has been passed by the House but stalled in the Senate. Despite the bipartisan support, Trump's stance on DACA remains unclear. In 2017, he announced that he was ending the program, but a court ruling blocked the move. Since then, there have been reports of DACA recipients without criminal records being detained by federal immigration officials despite the protection they are supposed to receive under the program. The uncertainty surrounding DACA has left many recipients and their families in limbo. "We're living in constant fear," said one DACA recipient who wished to remain anonymous. "We don't know what's going to happen next or if we'll be able to stay here." As Congress continues to debate the future of DACA, it remains unclear when a permanent solution will be reached. However, with bipartisan support and several bills introduced in Congress, there is hope that a solution can be found. In the meantime, DACA recipients continue to face uncertainty and fear about their future. "We're not asking for much," said Salazar. "We just want to be able to live without fear of deportation." *Reporting by Npr.*