California lawmakers issued various statements regarding 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.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is calling the move "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."
She also demanded an immediate vote to address the issue.
U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas (D- 51st District) said the president broke a promise made to nearly 800,000 DREAMers.
"The President and his Administration are betraying the values that make America great and turning the lives of families across the country into a nightmare," Vargas said.
U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-49th District) believes it's the role of Congress to deal with the immigration status of DREAMers "the right way."
“When President Obama unilaterally created DACA, he unlawfully overstepped his executive authority and only put a temporary band-aid on a problem which prolonged uncertainty for many children brought here through no fault of their own," Issa said.
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"Dreamers are Americans in every way except a piece of paper," U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D- California) said.
“By ending DACA, President Trump ignores the Dreamers’ economic impact to our country. He has not only put them at risk but our economy at risk as well," U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D- 53rd District).
Congressional representative for San Diego, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R - 50th District), said today's decision puts this immigration issue back into the hands of Congress where it should have been from the start.
"President Trump is aiming to keep families together and uphold his commitment to address the immigration issue in a way that’s consistent with his promises," Hunter said.
"Ending #DACA is cruel and heartless.," U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D- 13th District) tweeted. "Congress must act now to protect #DREAMers and pass comprehensive immigration reform once and for all."
U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D - 52nd District) used "cowardice" to describe the decision to rescind the DACA program.
"We must move swiftly to protect DREAMers and provide them and their employers with the certainty they deserve. If Congress does not act by March 6th, 2018, it is complicit in this economic and moral catastrophe,” Peters said.
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla called the move by the president's administration "a callous decision" and announced the state would stand with the so-called Dreamers.
"This decision creates a critical and urgent challenge for more than 200,000 Dreamers in California and 800,000 nationwide who pay taxes and contribute to our country," Padilla said in a statement. "They are not just students – they are community leaders, business owners, taxpayers, and key to our workforce."
Senate Republican leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued a statement saying the real work must begin.
"It is imperative that Congress pass a lasting legislative solution that will ensure that 800,000 young people, who have done nothing wrong, can continue to pursue their educations, careers and contributions to our great nation," Bates said.
Please check back for updates to this article as lawmakers release their reaction to the president's decision.
