President Donald Trump says that if the Supreme Court overturns protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants "a deal will be made with the Dems for them to stay!"
The high court is hearing arguments Tuesday on Trump's bid to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
The program was begun under President Barack Obama and shields immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from being deported. It also allows the estimated 660,000 immigrants to work in the U.S. legally.
The Trump administration announced in September 2017 that it would end DACA protections, but lower federal courts have stepped in to keep the program alive.
Trump's past promises to work with Democrats on protections for these immigrants have not led to an agreement.
Trump wrongly claimed Tuesday that many of those in the program are "no longer very young, are far from 'angels'" and that "some are very tough hardened criminals."
Under the program, anyone convicted of a felony is barred from participating. Serious misdemeanors may also bar eligibility.
A decision is expected by June 2020, amid the presidential election campaign.
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Today, the Supreme Court is hearing a case that could decide the future of over 700k young undocumented immigrants who came here as children. These are — and always have been — Americans. I stand with all DREAMers, including the more than 12k living right here in Nevada.
— Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) November 12, 2019
Many of the people in DACA, no longer very young, are far from “angels.” Some are very tough, hardened criminals. President Obama said he had no legal right to sign order, but would anyway. If Supreme Court remedies with overturn, a deal will be made with Dems for them to stay!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2019
