The new Trump Administration has yet to take action on one of former Pres. Obama's most famous immigration actions, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), according to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Ending the program was a campaign promise of Pres. Trump's, and his campaign website pledged to end the executive amnesty "immediately".
After taking multiple questions on DACA, Spicer said that ending the program was not a top priority for the Administration.
"I think the President’s been clear that he is going to prioritize the areas of dealing with the immigration system both building the wall and making sure that we address people who are in this country illegally," Spicer said. "First and foremost, the President’s been very, very clear that we need to direct agencies to focus on those who are in the country illegally and have a record, a criminal record, or pose a threat to the American people. That’s where the priority’s going to be and then we’re going to continue to work through the entire number of folks here illegally but right now the clear focus is on that."
Spicer's comments followed comments over the weekend from Trump's Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, who said that the Administration was looking to work with Congressional leaders for a legislative solution to the problem.
Spicer was also asked when Pres. Trump would start building the wall on the southern border, his signature campaign promise.
"He has already started to work with Congress on the appropriations avenue of that and so he is doing everything he can to direct agencies and Congress to commence with that work as soon as possible," Spicer said.
Pres. Trump did take an action during his first full business day in office, however, that impacts immigration. As one of his first acts as President, Trump signed an executive action to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership in order to fulfill his vision "to negotiate trade deals that create jobs, increase American wages, and reduce America’s trade deficit" according to Spicer. He explained that, "the offshoring of American jobs and the lack of economic growth in recent years has hit American workers particularly hard and the President’s top priority is to retain and attract American jobs."
In an interview with Breitbart News, Rosemary Jenks, NumbersUSA’s Director of Government Relations, said that TPP would have a huge impact on immigration allowing foreign companies to compete with American companies and send their workers here instead of hiring American workers. “There’s no question that TPP sets up expectations that there will be virtually unfettered access to the United States for people and companies that provide services,” she said.
