Former President Barack Obama (D) is praising the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The DACA progam was created in 2012 by Obama to protect immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children from deportation. Those immigrants have been called “Dreamers.”
In a tweet on Thursday, Obama said, “Eight years ago this week, we protected young people who were raised as part of our American family from deportation.”
He continued:
“Today, I’m happy for them, their families, and all of us. We may look different and come from everywhere, but what makes us American are our shared ideals and now to stand up for those ideals, we have to move forward and elect [Joe Biden] and a Democratic Congress that does its job, protects DREAMers, and finally creates a system that’s truly worthy of this nation of immigrants once and for all.”
…and now to stand up for those ideals, we have to move forward and elect @JoeBiden and a Democratic Congress that does its job, protects DREAMers, and finally creates a system that’s truly worthy of this nation of immigrants once and for all.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 18, 2020
The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday morning that President Donald Trump’s decision to rescind DACA in 2017 was illegal.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who joined the court’s four liberal justices to uphold the protections, called Trump’s move “arbitrary and capricious.”
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden shared Obama’s tweet and echoed calls to make DACA protections permanent. Biden said, “Thanks, Barack. You’re right — and we won’t stop until every Dreamer feels safe in this country.”
Thanks, Barack. You're right — and we won't stop until every Dreamer feels safe in this country. https://t.co/fVoZRhabRy
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 18, 2020
In a separate statement, Biden said, “As President, I will immediately work to make it permanent by sending a bill to Congress on day one of my Administration.”
He continued to hail the protections offered by DACA but added, “The joy of today’s victory does not erase the difficult road ahead. We know that much work remains to be done.”
“But I will continue to stand with DACA recipients, their parents, and their families at every step, and in November, joined by millions across this country, we will reject the President who tried to rip so many of our family members, friends, and coworkers out of our lives,” he said.
