Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Video Archive Almanac
About Feedback Privacy Policy
About Feedback Privacy Policy
Search
Trending
Dope Christmas sweater
WWE Hall of Fame
Sam Pittman
$120,000 banana
PetSmart horse
Miss Universe
New Zealand volcano
Mystery boat
Elizabeth Warren
Wild horses
Abortion
U.S. News
Nov. 11, 2019 / 7:44 PM

Divided Supreme Court appears to favor Trump plan to end DACA

By
Nicholas Sakelaris & Danielle Haynes
Pro-immigration demonstrators protest Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators gather Tuesday in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators gather Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators gather Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators protest Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.  Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators protest Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators protest Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators protest Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators protest Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo
Pro-immigration demonstrators protest Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared divided along party lines on President Donald Trump's efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, indicating a potential end to the immigration system.

Justices heard the first arguments in the case Tuesday. Two key questions dominated the arguments -- about whether the court can second-guess the president's effort to end DACA and whether he has the authority to do so.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh appeared to side firmly with Trump -- indicating he has sound legal ground for eliminating the Obama-era program, which allows migrants taken to the United States as children to stay.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts and more liberal Associate Justice Stephen Breyer seemed unsure of the court's authority on the question.

RELATED Bernie Sanders' immigration plan strips Trump actions, expands DACA

"I'm saying honestly, I'm struggling," Breyer said.

Roberts said a mass deportation resulting from the end of the program is unlikely because the government doesn't have the resources to do it.

Pro-DACA attorney Theodore Olson argued Trump's original justification to phase out the program was that it was illegal. He added that the threat of repealing the system will disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of migrants who rely on it to remain in the United States.

RELATED Biden higher education plan offers free community college, student loan relief

Solicitor General Noel Francisco argued the program should end regardless of its legality, and the Homeland Security Department disagreed with providing immunity against deportation laws.

"We own this," Francisco said.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, appointed by President Barack Obama, said Trump has wavered on the issue, noting that he once said "Dreamers" were "safe under him" -- only later to change position and give them six months to leave.

RELATED 2 years after Trump moved to end DACA, Dreamers have hope, anxiety

Trump has tried to wind down DACA, but lower federal courts have kept him from doing so. Trump campaigned on a promise to end Obama's "illegal executive amnesties."

More than 90 percent of DACA recipients are employed and 45 percent are in school, a government study found, and proponents argue many become contributing members of American society -- physicians, attorneys, engineers and military officers.

"We represent employers of all sizes in making the case to uphold DACA," Microsoft President Brad Smith wrote Friday in a blog post supporting the program, also saying "serious harm" will be done if the program ends. Microsoft is among more than 140 companies that support DACA.

Trump said last year he was willing to keep the DACA program if Congress took the steps needed to fix it. Federal courts ultimately issued an injunction that nullified the administration's deadline.

Republicans must stand up to @realDonaldTrump's shameful attacks on America's immigrant community. The Senate must finally #ProtectTheDream and pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. https://t.co/p1dmZLjG28— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) November 12, 2019

As the high court weighed the merits of the case Tuesday, congressional Democrats held a news conference calling on Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to pass the DREAM Act, which would make DACA law.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said he met with Trump at the White House on the issue, and said the president said he wanted to "treat these young people with love."

"When you started on a pathway that put all these young people at risk, that's not love," Menendez said. "It's just fundamentally wrong what the administration is doing. Let's see who stands for the dream and who wants to snuff it out."

Most recently, Trump said he wants a "bipartisan deal" that benefits everyone.

In a brief filed with the court, the Trump administration said the repeal of DACA was an administrative procedure that is not subject to judicial review -- and argued that President Barack Obama's actions to start the program in 2012 were unlawful. In 2017, then-U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the Department of Homeland Security was "legally required" to end DACA.

  • Topics
  • Donald Trump
  • Barack Obama
  • Brad Smith
  • Jeff Sessions
  • Supreme Court
  • DACA
  • Politics
  • Immigration & Border Security
  • Justice Stephen Breyer
  • Justices Clarence Thomas
  • Samuel Alito
  • Neil Gorsuch
  • Brett Kavanaugh
  • Sonia Sotomayor
  • John Roberts
  • Bob Menendez
  • Nancy Pelosi
  • Mitch McConnell

Latest Headlines

Pensacola computer network targeted by cyberattack
U.S. News // 3 hours ago
Pensacola computer network targeted by cyberattack
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Monday that it has not identified a connection between an ongoing cyberattack against Pensacola, Fla., and the mass shooting that occurred there Friday.

House Democrats to lay out articles of impeachment Tuesday after judiciary hearing
U.S. News // 17 hours ago
House Democrats to lay out articles of impeachment Tuesday after judiciary hearing
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Democratic investigators began to detail their impeachment case against President Donald Trump at a hearing on Capitol Hill Monday, presenting evidence to the House judiciary committee.

Report on Afghanistan war deceit prompts anger, call for Congressional hearing
U.S. News // 5 hours ago
Report on Afghanistan war deceit prompts anger, call for Congressional hearing
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A Washington Post report stating senior U.S. officials knowingly misled the public about the progress of the Afghan war prompted outrage and a call for a Congressional hearing on Monday.

Police, FBI find narcotics, guns in Juice WRLD's luggage
U.S. News // 6 hours ago
Police, FBI find narcotics, guns in Juice WRLD's luggage
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Chicago police and FBI reported they found narcotics and weapons in the luggage of late rapper Juice WRLD, who died Sunday.

Peter Frates, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge co-founder, dies at 34
U.S. News // 7 hours ago
Peter Frates, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge co-founder, dies at 34
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Peter Frates, co-founder of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised more than $200 million worldwide for research into the neurodegenerative disease, has died at age 34.

Gallup: Record number of Americans delayed serious medical treatment
U.S. News // 10 hours ago
Gallup: Record number of Americans delayed serious medical treatment
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A record 25 percent of U.S. adults said they or a family member delayed treatment for a serious medical condition in the past year because of cost, Gallup said Monday.

LA-area Nativity scene shows Jesus, Mary, Joseph in cages at border
U.S. News // 11 hours ago
LA-area Nativity scene shows Jesus, Mary, Joseph in cages at border
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- A Nativity scene in Southern California that depicts a baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph in separate cages at the U.S.-Mexico border has drawn attention as a statement against the Trump administration's immigration policy.

Justice Dept. watchdog finds no evidence of bias in Russia inquiry
U.S. News // 13 hours ago
Justice Dept. watchdog finds no evidence of bias in Russia inquiry
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Justice Department watchdog said Monday efforts by authorities to surveill a member of President Donald Trump's campaign as part of the Russia investigation were rife with mistakes, but contained nothing improper.

Supreme Court refuses to hear opioid case involving OxyContin makers
U.S. News // 12 hours ago
Supreme Court refuses to hear opioid case involving OxyContin makers
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court declined to hear a case Monday that accused Purdue Pharma of moving billions of dollars in an effort to shield them from a spate of pending lawsuits over the drug OxyContin.

Supreme Court allows divisive Kentucky abortion law to begin
U.S. News // 13 hours ago
Supreme Court allows divisive Kentucky abortion law to begin
Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear arguments over a new Kentucky rule that requires physicians show women seeking abortions ultrasound images of their unborn fetuses, allowing the controversial law to take effect.

Trending Stories

New Zealand volcano: Officials say at least 5 dead, 'no signs of life'
New Zealand volcano: Officials say at least 5 dead, 'no signs of life'
Storm churns up boat mystery from depths of Lake Michigan
Storm churns up boat mystery from depths of Lake Michigan
House Democrats to lay out articles of impeachment Tuesday after judiciary hearing
House Democrats to lay out articles of impeachment Tuesday after judiciary hearing
New rules for managing wild horses, burros on horizon
New rules for managing wild horses, burros on horizon
Elizabeth Warren discloses $1.9M in earnings from legal work
Elizabeth Warren discloses $1.9M in earnings from legal work

Photo Gallery

 
Hemingway watches, 'Dupont Emerald' on display at Christie's preview
Hemingway watches, 'Dupont Emerald' on display at Christie's preview

Latest News

New Zealand volcano: Police launch criminal probe; Americans among 8 missing
New Zealand Police identifies officers who arrested Christchurch suspect
Russia, Ukraine leaders agree on cease-fire, prisoner exchange by year's end
U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of Year
Indianapolis Colts place K Adam Vinatieri on season-ending injured reserve
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy