State Leaders Speak Out Against DACA Rollback

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is joining 15 other state attorneys general nationwide in a lawsuit challenging the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, immigration program. The program lets young immigrants brought here illegally by their parents remain in the country and find employment. President Trump announced Tuesday he will phase out DACA over six months while giving Congress the opportunity to develop a legislative substitute. The Albuquerque Journal reports the lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court in New York. No other Four Corners states had joined the suit as of press time. Meanwhile, Colorado’s two senators are voicing support for legislative action to keep the young immigrants from being deported. The Denver Post reports Senator Cory Gardner, a Republican, will join Democratic Senator Michael Bennet in co-sponsoring the DREAM Act. It would let immigrants who came to the country illegally before they were 18 qualify for legal residence, and eventually apply for citizenship, if they meet certain conditions, such as having no felony record. Colorado’s Third Congressional District representative, Scott Tipton, issued a statement saying President Obama’s unilateral creation of the DACA program in 2012 was unconstitutional, but Tipton believes Congress must find a “compassionate and commonsense solution” for DACA enrollees, whom he called “upstanding, valued members of our communities.” Colorado is home to an estimated 17,000 DACA enrollees, New Mexico to about 7,000.