SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) There could be more than 500 so-called Dreamers in South Dakota, according to government statistics.
The Trump Administration has decided to phase out DACA and give Congress six months to come up with legislation to cover the issue. Dreamers are undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, usually with their parents. DACA essentially made them legal.
South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R) says Trump has made the right decision because former President Obama's DACA rule was unconstitutional. She says that once the border is secure, then the government can better identify the needs of the immigration system.
South Dakota U.S. Senator John Thune (R) also agrees with Trump.
"The DACA program is a perfect example of the Obama administration’s repeated executive overreach, and it was never a tenable, constitutional, or long-term solution to the immigration challenges in this country." Thune says he looks forward to Congress playing a role in reforming the nation's immigration system.
The South Dakota Democratic Party's Executive Director Sam Parkinson says Trump's decision was cruel and short-sighted. He says there will be an economic as well as a personal impact in South Dakota.
"This decision by Trump impacts more than just those who are legally here through DACA, it also represents the businesses they work for, which will cause an economic issue in the state," Parkinson tells KELO.com News that whatever Congress comes up with it should include a path to citizenship for the Dreamers.
Activists planned a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening in Sioux Falls at Meldrum Park to protest the President's decision. It was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Central.
DACA stands for 'Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals'.