Illegal aliens who entered the United States as minors are getting amnesty from the Trump administration at a rate that mirrors the Obama years. The latest government data show some 17,000 new two-year amnesties, under President Obama\u2019s unconstitutional Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program were issued and more than 107,000 renewal applications were approved in the first quarter of 2017.<\/p>\n
Hey, it\u2019s for the kids, right?<\/p>\n
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services report<\/a>, released on a day when James Comey\u2019s Senate testimony sucked all the oxygen out of the news cycle, didn\u2019t get much media attention. But the numbers are noteworthy.<\/p>\n USCIS\u2019s continued soft treatment of DACA \u201cyouth\u201d flies in the face of Trump\u2019s pledge to reform and tighten the U.S. immigration system.<\/p>\n First, DACA applies to individuals up to age 35. Hardly children any more, despite the common characterization.<\/p>\n Second, many illegal aliens qualifying for DACA status had arrest records. Some continued to consort with violent gangs, according to a Seattle Times investigation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Third, the DACA renewals mean fresh work permits for individuals who are statutorily prohibited from being employed in the U.S. Under Obama, up to 8 million aliens<\/a> \u2013 including DACA recipients — misrepresented their status to work legally in the United States.<\/p>\n