California’s members of Congress react to Trump’s DACA decision

CaliforniaWashington
Sept. 5, 2017, 9:30 a.m. Reporting from Washington

California’s members of Congress react to Trump’s DACA decision

Sarah D. Wire

Few Republicans in the California congressional delegation jumped to comment on the Trump administration’s announcement Tuesday that it will phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program unless Congress acts on the matter.

More than a fourth of the estimated 800,000 DACA recipients, or “Dreamers,” are thought to live in California, and some of the most vulnerable Republican congressional members in the state represent areas with large minority or migrant populations.

Rep. Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) said Sunday on Facebook that the status of people brought to the country illegally as children needs congressional input.

“Their status deserves a thorough and thoughtful review. While the program may be ending, it should still receive attention by Congress. I encourage my colleagues to take the opportunity to now review this policy closely to see the impact this decision will have on the affected children,” he said.

Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) told NPR’s “Morning Edition” Tuesday that protecting people brought to the country as children could be a way to bring Congress together. Denham and Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) have urged President Trump not to end the program, and asked House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) to allow some of the bills that would address the Dreamers’ legal status to move forward

“There is a bipartisan solution here, the real issue is Congress has to do its job,” Denham said. “Congress should not need six months, this should be something that moves very quickly that is very bipartisan.”

The 39 Democrats in the California delegation took to social media quickly to say they will push for Congress to act quickly to come up with a legislative fix.