The battle over immigration policy continues as some politicians work toward protecting immigrants who illegally entered the U.S., according to two recent Los Angeles Times articles by Sarah D. Wire and Jazmine Ulloa.
Referring to young immigrants brought here as children, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said, “There are people who are in limbo. These are kids who know no other country … and don’t know another home,” reported Wire.
A letter to Ryan signed by 10 House Republicans stated, “These individuals’ status in the United States should not be left to the political winds of different administrations that come to power.”
Central Valley Representatives David Valadao of Hanford and Jeff Denham of Turlock were among the 10 Republicans who signed that letter. They stressed that Congress must find a solution that will protect the hundreds of thousands of people brought to this country illegally as children, reported Wire.
These young immigrants, collectively known as “Dreamers,” are currently protected by DACA regulations initiated by former President Barack Obama.
Valadao and Denham also joined a handful of Republicans in a letter urging President Trump not to end the DACA program, while co-sponsoring legislation aimed at finding a fix.
Meanwhile, former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. filed a brief on behalf of the California Senate, in support of Chicago’s lawsuit against the Justice Department, according to Ulloa’s article.
Holder said current U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions does not have the constitutional authority to mandate that cities, counties or states participate in federal immigration efforts as a condition to receive their federal public safety awards.
In the brief, Holder said the California Legislature is particularly interested in the Chicago case due to State Senate Bill 54, which looks to limit state and local law enforcement agencies from utilizing resources to question, detain and provide information on immigrants illegally in the country.