WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s decision to phase out a program that shields from deportation young immigrants brought to the country illegally (all times local):
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11:45 a.m.
House Speaker Paul Ryan says Barack Obama’s existing policy for immigrants brought to the country as children was a “clear abuse of executive authority” and now it’s incumbent upon Congress to act.
In a statement Tuesday, the Wisconsin Republican says the heart of the issue is “young people who came to this country through no fault of their own.”
Ryan says it is his hope that the House and Senate — with the president’s leadership — will find consensus on a permanent legislative solution to the issue. He says it is important to ensure that those who have done nothing wrong can still contribute “as a valued party of this great country.”
Ryan’s statement came after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced he was rescinding the program known as DACA.
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11:45 a.m.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is calling President Donald Trump’s decision to end the program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children “a deeply shameful act of political cowardice.”
Pelosi also said in a statement that the widely expected announcement on Tuesday was a “despicable assault on innocent young people in communities across America.”
The California lawmaker said the decision requires immediate action from the Republican-led Congress, and Speaker Paul Ryan and the GOP leadership must hold a vote immediately to address the issue.
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11:15 a.m.
The Trump administration has announced that it will wind down a program protecting young immigrants from deportation.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday called the program known as DACA as an “unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch.”
He says the Trump administration is urging Congress to find an alternate way to protect young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children.
Sessions says the U.S. needs to have a lawful immigration that “serves the national interest” and the U.S. cannot admit everyone who wants to come to the country.
[Image via CNN screengrab]
