WASHINGTON, D.C. — The first reported deportation of a current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient raises serious questions for the Trump administration.
News broke Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security deported Juan Manuel Montes, a 23-year-old DACA recipient, to Mexico in February.
The case suggests Trump’s Department of Homeland Security is ignoring the president’s and Secretary John Kelly’s pledge to protect such immigrants. And today Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that all undocumented immigrants are subject to deportation.
The deportation also runs counter to popular opinion. A poll released Tuesday of Texas adults indicates that 91 percent of respondents who identify as Republican support a way for undocumented immigrants to meet strict criteria and earn citizenship. The findings mirror support among Americans overall.
The following is a statement by Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum:
“Deporting people who were supposed to be protected is a clear example of a Department of Homeland Security that is acting without any accountability. Such actions are a clear result of the president’s rhetoric.
“Secretary Kelly needs to assert his control, and the department and its agencies need clear enforcement priorities.
“The majority of Americans do not want an enforcement-only approach, but rather a constructive way forward that does not target young immigrants like Juan Manuel Montes and other undocumented immigrants who pose no threat to public safety. The Trump administration continues to demonstrate that all undocumented immigrants are a priority for deportation. That sows fear and wastes resources. Not just the administration but also Congress must act to set priorities and spend limited resources wisely.”