Democrats, Republicans slam Trump's DACA decision as 'heartless'

Senator Leahy.
(Image credit: Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Democrats and Republicans alike reacted Tuesday to the Trump administration's official announcement that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects individuals who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, is being rescinded. "The president has revealed he is as heartless as he is uninformed," said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) while Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) added: "I strongly believe that children who were illegally brought into this country through no fault of their own should not be forced to return to a country they do not know."

John Cornyn (R-Texas) said that DREAMers — so named after the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act — "continue to make positive contributions to Texas and the nation," while Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) called it "simply wrong to needlessly target hardworking young adults in order to score political points."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.