Trump’s decision on DACA weighing heavy on Republicans

President Trump’s plan to phase out Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals sparked condemnation from his own party on Monday — deepening a rift between the administration and GOP lawmakers.

“It is right for there to be consequences for those who intentionally entered this country illegally,” Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford said in a written statement.
“However, we as Americans do not hold children legally accountable for the actions of their parents.”
The veteran GOP senator called on Congress and the White House to fix US immigration laws.
“We must confront the nation’s out-of-date immigration policy and finally resolve the issues of strong border enforcement and merit immigration,” Lankford wrote.
“Policy reform must come from the American people through Congress. The Legislative and Executive Branch should put aside passivity and partisanship and finally modernize our immigration laws.”
Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, tweeted, “dealing w #Dreamers with ‘great heart’ isn’t reflected in @POTUS plan,” referring to Trump’s assertion that he had “a big heart” when it came to the “Dreamers,” who were brought to the United States as minors.
Trump on Tuesday is expected to propose abolishing DACA but only after a six-month waiting period so that Congress has time to decide the fate of the roughly 800,000 young people protected by the Obama-created program.
The call for a waiting period also sank like a stone for some Republicans.
“Ending DACA now gives chance 2 restore rule of law. Delaying to R Leadership can push Amnesty is Republican suicide,” tweeted Iowa Rep. Steve King.
But Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina said he would support Trump’s plan — and that he and Sen Dick Durbin (R-Ill.) had introduced legislation that would help the Dreamers.
“If President Trump chooses to cancel the DACA program and give Congress six months to find a legislative solution, I will be supportive of such a position,” Graham said in a statement.
“I have always believed DACA was a presidential overreach. However, I equally understand the plight of the Dream Act kids who — for all practical purposes — know no country other than America,” he said.
In New York, Gov. Cuomo and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman vowed Monday to sue Trump if he kills DACA.
“The president’s action would upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people who have only ever called America their home,” Cuomo and Schneiderman said in a joint statement.