Hirono Pushes to Reinstate DACA

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, the only immigrant currently serving in the US Senate, is advocating to restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The program, which President Donald Trump abolished in 2017, allowed individuals who were not authorized to reside in the US, but who were brought to the country as children, the opportunity for a two-year deportation deferral and to qualify for a work permit.

Last week, Hirono and 170 other members of Congress and former Representatives filed a bipartisan amicus brief in the Supreme Court in support of DACA.

“Donald Trump put the lives of Dreamers at risk when he canceled DACA and sabotaged every effort Congress made to protect these young people. After creating this mess, he’s now looking to his appointees on the Supreme Court to ignore the law and approve his unjustified actions,” Hirono said in a press release.

“We must continue to fight the president’s unlawful actions to ensure that Dreamers can live their lives and pursue their dreams in the only country they know.”

In the release, Hirono explained that the amicus brief “makes it clear that the program was consistent with our nation’s immigration laws and that the decision to terminate DACA was unlawful.”

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on DACA on Nov. 12.

The full amicus brief is available here.