President Donald Trump has retracted former President Barack Obama’s 2012 program that provided security to nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as young children and allowed them to come out of hiding.

The Trump administration will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in six months. The program, enacted by executive order, allows undocumented immigrants brought into the country by their parents before the age of 16 to get a temporary deferment from deportation. Referred to as DREAMers, they’re allowed to work, study and obtain driver’s licenses. Attorney General Jeff Sessions argued that Obama overstepped his authority and bypassed Congress in order to enact this program when he made the Sept. 5 announcement.

However, Obama was caught in an all too common predicament when he signed DACA: Congressional deadlock. Immigration reform failed to pass several times in Washington D.C.

Unfortunately, this is just another example of conservative hypocrisy from Trump. He and other Republicans have complained on numerous occasions about Obama’s executive orders, claiming he overstepped presidential power. But Trump’s first act as president was an immigration-centered executive order banning travel from seven majority-Muslim nations. 

Trump calls himself the “law and order president”; however, he pardoned former Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio after he disobeyed a federal judge’s order to stop discriminating against Latinos. He has shown sympathy for Arpaio—setting a dangerous precedent for his future political allies who break the law—but failed to do so for young minds eager to get an education and contribute to our economy.

 

This is a mockery of people’s intelligence and beyond disgraceful; it will hurt the nation’s economy and educational system. These kids came out of the shadows—many to attend school—because they were promised that the information they provided would not be used to deport them, and Trump violated that trust.

He has repeatedly pointed to undocumented immigrants for the nation’s troubles. But DACA recipients have contributed tremendously to America, both to its economy and higher education. 

Sixty-five percent of DREAMers reported purchasing their first car, averaging $16,469; meanwhile, 65 percent are currently enrolled in school, according to an Aug. 28 survey from the Center for American Progress. 

The numbers show that DREAMers are motivated individuals who should be welcomed from all corners of the U.S. Not only should Congress move swiftly to pass immigration reform, constituents should be burning up their elected officials’ emails and phone lines. Lobbyists from corporations and universities need to advocate for DREAMers’ rights as well because it serves their interests. 

Congress also needs to respect its constituents’ views who overwhelmingly support allowing DREAMers to stay in the country across political party lines. Eighty-four percent of Democrats, 74 percent of independents and 69 percent of Republicans think DREAMers should be allowed to stay in the U.S., according to a Sept. 5 poll from POLITICO and Morning Consult. 

It’s a shameful, sick game that some politicians are playing. They are using immigrants as a scapegoat to blame for the country’s economic problems. Own up to it and perform your constitutional duty.