The Trump administration has been chipping away at protections for illegal immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was introduced by former President Barack Obama, provided work permits and shielded these individuals from deportation. However, the Trump administration has been slow-walking renewals and work authorizations, leaving many recipients out of compliance and forcing them to lose their jobs.

Detentions and Deportations

According to the Department of Homeland Security, hundreds of people who had been granted deferred action have been detained since Trump took office. Many of them have criminal records, which could disqualify them from protection. However, at least 85 people without a criminal conviction or pending criminal charge have been deported.

One such individual is JeanCarlos Fiallos Manzanares, who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally at the age of 7. He was granted deferred action in 2012 and had been living in the United States with his wife, a U.S. citizen, and their two young sons. However, he was detained last year and is now facing deportation to his native Honduras.

Changing Rules

The Trump administration has been changing the rules for deferred action, making it more difficult for recipients to qualify for the program. The administration has also been ignoring the purpose of deferring action, which is to recognize that some immigrants deserve humanitarian consideration.

Lawmakers have not overhauled the nation’s immigration laws since 1996, and the current system is in need of reform. The Trump administration’s efforts to curtail the deferred action program have been met with criticism from immigrant advocates, who argue that it is self-destructive for the economy, community, and families.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.