Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over DACA Deportation Policies
Activists are expressing their anger over recent moves by the Trump administration to facilitate the deportation of individuals who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, established under former President Barack Obama. This change raises considerable concern among those who benefit from the program.
Back in 2012, Obama had repeatedly stated that he lacked the authority to unilaterally grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants, a position he held firmly until introducing the DACA initiative.
“They don’t deserve that. We will not stop fighting back against the brutal anti-immigrant obstinacy of Trump, Stephen Miller, and their supporters.”
Now, nearly fifteen years later, recipients of DACA, often referred to as “Dreamers,” are increasingly at risk of deportation. The Office of Immigration Appeals, operating under the Department of Justice, made the recent decision that prompted this backlash.
Senator Dick Durbin from Illinois commented on the potential impact of this decision, saying it could significantly affect the several hundred thousand Dreamers who rely on DACA for the ability to work and live in the U.S. without fear of deportation. He urged Congress to take action to ensure that young people who have nowhere else to go are protected. “This is a simple matter of American fairness and justice,” he added.
Durbin pointed out that since January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has detained 261 DACA recipients, with 86 actual deportations occurring.
In a joint statement, four Democratic senators from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus also spoke out against the decision. They emphasized that President Trump had previously assured Dreamers they would feel secure, yet actions from his administration seem to consistently undermine the DACA program, jeopardizing the safety and livelihoods of nearly half a million individuals who know the U.S. as their only home.
“Dreamers are our friends and neighbors,” the senators stated. “They don’t deserve this. We will not stop fighting back against the brutal anti-immigrant obstinacy of Trump and his supporters.”
The National Immigration Center made a statement condemning the decision as “cruel,” warning it could lead to further harm for migrants. They stated that the administration’s proposal to strip DACA recipients of affordable health care access presents a significant setback for the community’s well-being. “
This decision is another step in a series of actions that seem aimed at gradually dismantling the DACA program without officially rescinding it, which could truly hurt many vulnerable individuals.
Senator Durbin estimated around 515,000 people might still qualify for DACA. Critics of the original DACA order argue that it constitutes an unconstitutional overreach, usurping powers designated for Congress.
