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Michigan Advocacy groups respond to Trump’s plan to end DACA

The White House
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https://flic.kr/p/UbMfRt

Advocacy groups say the Trump Administration’s announcement that it will end the DACA program puts thousands of Michigan residents in limbo.

DACA, or deferred action for childhood arrivals, allows children who were brought into the US illegally to get a two year renewable deferment of deportation and an eligibility to work permit.

Miriam Aukerman is with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. She said there are thousands of DACA recipients across the state and country.

“This was a dream crushing day for 800-thousand people in the United States and in Michigan there are over 6 thousand Michigan youth who are in the program.”

Aukerman said the move tp end DACA is appealing to anti-immigrant sentiment.

“I think the Trump administration is playing to hardliners who don’t understand that this is a diverse country, who don’t want opportunity for all.”

The Trump Administration has given congress six months to find a solution for DACA recipients, however Aukerman saId she isn’t hopeful.

“This was announced with no plan, it’s not clear what is going to happen but this is a threat to all these individuals who face tremendous uncertainty. Congress has not been able to accomplish very much and it’s not at all clear that congress would be able to pass the Dream act.”

Aukerman says the roughly six-thousand DACA recipients in Michigan add roughly 419 million dollars to the state GDP annually.

In a written press release officials with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights said they were concerned the end of DACA could increase incidents of hate crimes.