Legislators say finding a long-term solution to DACA will be a priority for 2018.
The program remains in limbo after a federal Judge suspended President Trump’s phase-out of the program on Wednesday.
In Michigan, roughly seven thousand people are recipients of DACA, the program that grants temporary legal status to people who were brought to the US as children.
Republican US Congressman John Moolenaar said the issue of DACA, border security, and immigration are all tied together.
“We want to make sure that we improve our system of immigration. We want to make sure we resolve the DACA question. When you think of border security all of those things are on the table right now being negotiated.”
Moolenaar said legislators need to find a solution that will respect the rule of law.
“When you look at these children who came here through no fault of their own it’s pretty hard to say these kids shouldn’t stay here. This is the country they’ve known. We want to have a process that is compassionate according to a legal fair process.”
The congressman said he’d like to see stronger border security and harsher punishments for people who cross the border illegally as part of the process.
While in a meeting on immigration this week President Trump reportedly denigrated African countries and wondered aloud why the US accepts immigrants from Haiti or El Salvador.
Trump has since denied the reports saying he used tough language, but “ this was not the language used”.
Congressman John Moolenaar said if the reports are true the language in question is unacceptable.
“It’s not clear to me exactly what was said but I don’t think there is any place in politics for describing people in a derogatory way that is acceptable.”
Moolenaar was one of many congressmen on both sides of the aisle to condemn the President’s alleged comments.