Today marks the fifth anniversary of DACA - the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program. California's Attorney General Xavier Becerra marked the occasion by urging President Trump to keep and defend DACA.
Yesterday Becerra sued the Trump administration over sanctuary city and immigration enforcement. Today, Bercerra praised President Trump for saying positive things about DACA in the past.
"The president has the moral high ground on this," says Becerra. "While Donald Trump and I don't agree on much, I think most of us agree that Dreamers who benefit from the DACA initiative are 'incredible kids' - as Donald Trump said. And that we should treat them 'with heart' - as President Trump said."
Under DACA, unauthorized immigrants who entered the U.S. as kids are protected from deportation. Participants pay a fee, register with the government, undergo background checks and are granted work permits.
But Becerra warns the program is being threatened. Texas and nine other states have promised to take the Trump administration to court unless it ends the program.
"We believe it's a fully lawful program and we are prepared to do what we need to to defend it," says Becerra.
Becerra says nearly 800,000 people have participated in DACA, including more than 200,000 in California.
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