Students at Utah State University are reacting to a call for Congress to create a program to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee last week announced his support to disband DACA. He and other members of the Utah delegation say Congress has the right and responsibility to find ways to support children who were brought here illegally.
“These students aren’t responsible for upheaval from their home country to here,” said Katrina Hernandez.
A documented Latino student at Utah State University, Hernandez says she has seen strong emotional reactions from members of her community since the Trump administration pulled the program.
“There’s been a lot of emotional reaction. There’s been a lot of uncertainty for their future and whether or not they can continue to peruse their studies here or even the life they have here,” Hernandez said.
In a written statement, Sen. Lee says he believes a balance between compassion and deterring future illegal immigration can be found by Congress members. Utah State University Political science professor Michael Lyons has his doubts.
“The track record of the congress over last few years and especially in the last nine months has been a pretty disappointing one, in which it has been very difficult to find consensus over issues that are as contentious as immigration policy is.”
For now students who were protected by DACA will have until March 31st, 2018 to find other ways to stay in the country or be forced to leave.
