The Guardian reports that Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are drafting legislation to protect the legal status of undocumented immigrants, called Dreamers, who were granted deferred action under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). DACA protects certain undocumented immigrants from deportation who came to the US before they turned 16. This is a welcome bipartisan message to President-elect Donald Trump, who has taken a hardline stance on immigration and threatened to repeal President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.
If Trump does repeal DACA it is unclear how he would do so. He could suspend the program and immediately revoke the two-year work authorization permits granted to the recipients. Alternatively, he could grandfather those already here but allow the work authorization permits to remain valid until their expiration.