SARASOTA – New College students and staff share their feelings on DACA , the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, heading to the Supreme Court Thursday morning. The Trump administration argues that it had the authority to end the program.
DACA is a program President Obama created to protect the children of immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally. President Trump tweeted some of these DACA recipients are no longer kids and are “far from ‘angels.’ Some are very tough, hardened criminals.”
Professor of Political Science at New College, Keith Fitzgerald, says he has seen the DACA kids first hand.
“I have had students in the situation, I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” Keith Fitzgerald said. “And I don’t know what we have to be afraid of, of kids who’ve come here under circumstances they didn’t choose and have done everything we want people to do.”
Student government president at New College believes DACA recipients should be naturalized.
“They have been here since they were young,” Steven Keshishian said. “This is the only country they know. How many DACA recipients are educated? They commit crimes lower than citizens. They’re an asset to our community all around the country, and they should be naturalized as U.S. Citizens.”
While DACA is an issue of immigration, Professor Fitzgerald doesn’t believe immigration will be the focus of the hearing, rather it will be on the technicality of the political system.
“This won’t be about is immigration good or bad, or should we increase or decrease it,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s going to be about does the president have this authority in these circumstances.”
But, Keshishian is nervous about where the Supreme Court decision will fall.
“I don’t know if we can go forward, I just hope we don’t go back,” Keshishian said. “I hope the next election cycle will bring something better.”
Reviewal is still underway. It’s not clear on when the Supreme Court will announce its ruling. Stay with us to get updates on the DACA decision.
