DHS/DREAMERS/IMMIGRATION: “Deporting immigrants who came to the United States illegally as children will not be a top federal law enforcement priority even if lawmakers do not pass a program to protect them, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security chief said in an interview aired on Tuesday [1-16-18].
Kirstjen Nielsen, speaking ahead of a congressional hearing, told CBS News that as long as so-called Dreamers have registered with federal authorities they will not be a top target even after U.S. President Donald Trump moved to cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program…
Although federal officials have said they will not target Dreamers, Trump has significantly expanded the categories of people who can be prioritized for deportation and immigrant advocates say DACA recipients who lose their status are at risk.
Nielsen’s comments come as Trump and lawmakers battle over an immigration deal that has blown up amid Trump’s controversial remarks at a recent White House meeting. The talks also overshadow larger spending negotiations ahead of a possible federal government shutdown this week.
Nielsen is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee at 10 a.m. (1500 GMT) to discuss oversight of the Department of Homeland Security.”
-Reuters Staff, “Homeland Security chief: Deporting ‘Dreamers’ not top priority,” Reuters, Jan. 16, 2018 06:25am