Week 79: "Deportation of Actual Committed Americans" (September 10, 2017)

Dear Readers,

It has been an eventful week. For all past newsletters (and more), make sure to go to the blog at http://www.electreport.blogspot.com

If you would like to donate to help with relief for Hurricane Irma, donate to the Red Cross here or to UNICEF here

DACA

This week, President Trump told Congress they had six months to overturn (or legalize) the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (generally known as DACA), started by President Obama in 2012 to protect children of illegal immigrants from deportation. To be eligible for DACA, one must have come to the US as a child, have lived here for 5 years, and either have a job, be getting an education, or be a veteran. Anyone with a criminal record is excluded.

The implications of this being that President Trump is going to take innocent people who have lived in America for most of their lives and contribute to the economy and send them back to a place they have little familiarity with, just because of their parents’ decision to come here illegally. Many, many people spoke out against Trump’s decision, and as a response he offered Congress the option of legalizing the program. The fate of the program is very uncertain, which is worrying many program members. It has also been estimated ending DACA will cost almost $200 billion.

Budget

Trump also astonished Republicans by agreeing with Democratic congressional leaders to increase the debt limit and allow governmental operations to continue until December. Trump told the press "We had a very good meeting; we essentially came to a deal. I think the deal will be very good," and Minority Leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer announced what exactly the deal was. These were added to the Hurricane Harvey aid bill passed by the House, and was passed by both houses on Friday. It was an interesting move, and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Trump is willing to work with whoever is willing to negotiate, and will not be beholden to congressional Republicans.

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