San Diego Immigration Expert Says DACA Decision Is A Political Bargaining Tool

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Credit: Associated Press

Above: A woman holds up a signs in support of the Obama administration program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, during an immigration reform rally at the White House in Washington, Aug. 15, 2017.

President Donald Trump Tuesday began phasing out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a government program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children.

About 800,000 immigrants are currently protected under the program, including more than 223,000 Californians. An estimated 38,000 San Diegans were eligible for the program.

Tom Wong, UC San Diego political science professor with the progressive nonprofit policy institute Center for American Progress, conducted a survey of DACA recipients and released the results last month. It found DACA continues to have a positive impact on the lives of young immigrants and the economy.

Wong sat down with KPBS’ Ebone Monet to talk about how President Trump’s decision to eliminate DACA will affect these immigrants.

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