This Issue: Supreme Court seems tilted against DACA, but ruling won't come until middle of 2020 Presidential campaign

Fri, Nov 15^th

DACA finally had its day before the Supreme Court as justices heard oral arguments this week over whether Pres. Trump has the authority to terminate what the Administration (and NumbersUSA) argues was an unconstitutional executive amnesty ordered by former Pres. Obama.

Most court observers predict that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of Pres. Trump, allowing the administration to wind down the program. But that ruling won't come until June -- just a few months before the next presidential election.

During the 2016 campaign, then-candidate Trump said that ending the DACA amnesty would be one of his first actions if elected. It took nine months to announce an end to the program, and the decision was immediately halted by the lower courts.

Experts believe that SCOTUS will rule only on whether the Trump administration has the authority to end DACA and not on the merits of DACA. That would force the president to decide whether to end the program during an election year, which would please his base but risk angering some swing voters, or allow the program to continue at the risk of angering his base.

It appeared on Tuesday, however, that Pres. Trump has already made a decision and wants to pass legislation that would make the DACA amnesty permanent.

Many of the people in DACA, no longer very young, are far from "angels." Some are very tough, hardened criminals. President Obama said he had no legal right to sign order, but would anyway. If Supreme Court remedies with overturn, a deal will be made with Dems for them to stay!

-- @realDonaldTrump

In the GOP controlled Senate, 23 seats held by Republicans are up for grabs in 2020, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's, so securing enough votes for amnesty legislation during an election year is no easy task. At least 13 of the 53 Republicans would have to vote for the amnesty for it to get past a Senate filibuster. Congressional Democratic Leaders are arguing that any amnesty must be far larger than DACA recipients.

KUSHNER BILL COULD PROVIDE VEHICLE FOR AMNESTY

Pres. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is working on legislation that would replace the current green card system with a merit-based system, but keep annual legal immigration numbers above 1 million per year.

It's possible that the White House would combine that proposal with a permanent amnesty for DACA recipients.

The threat of an amnesty bill passing before next fall is very real, but so is our grassroots' ability to stop it. We'll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates and opportunities for action as they come in.

Chris Chmielenski
NumbersUSA Deputy Director

Washington Times: Rosemary provided insight as to whether Congress would pass a DACA amnesty in light of this week's Supreme Court hearing: Rosemary Jenks, government relations manager at NumbersUSA, which backs stricter limits, said there is no way Congress would pass a limited bill for Dreamers at this point.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Democrats demanded that any bill must go beyond Dreamers to include hundreds of thousands of other illegal immigrants as part of a legalization.

Ms. Jenks pointed out another wrinkle: Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law who has been working on a massive immigration overhaul, is eyeing a chance to marry his proposal to a Dreamer legalization bill. That could further complicate negotiations because his proposal would likely irk many in Mr. Trump's base who don't want another surge of legal immigrants either.

Politico: Chris was quoted by Politico, responding to the Trump administration's attempt to block work permits for illegal aliens who claim asylum: "There must be consequences for illegal entry, or our laws are meaningless," Chris Chmielenski, deputy director of NumbersUSA, told Morning Shift in a written statement. "Since we know most of these folks are coming for jobs, rather than fleeing persecution, delaying the issuance of a work permit is a reasonable consequence of breaking the law."

Border Apprehensions at 15-month Low

Fri, Nov 15^th

Border Patrol officers apprehended 35,444 illegal border crossers last month, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, marking a 15-month low for apprehensions. In addition, officers encountered 9,806 inadmissibles at a port of entry for a total of 45,250 encounters last month -- also a 15-month low.

USCIS Proposes Rule to Deter Frivolous and Fraudulent Asylum Claims

Thu, Nov 14^th

In response to the surge in individuals making frivolous and fraudulent asylum claims, USCIS announced a proposed rule this week that would make it more difficult for these individuals to enter the U.S. and gain work authorization.

New Farm Bill: Good for Ag Employers and Illegal Aliens, Bad for American Workers

Wed, Nov 13^th

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, H.R. 4916, introduced by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), would grant amnesty - including work permits, green cards, and a path to citizenship - to illegal aliens who have been unlawfully employed in agriculture during the past two years. The legislation proposes variations on two tried and demonstrably failed policies of the past: amnesty and indentured servitude.

Most Aliens in Mississippi ICE Raids Stole Americans' Identities

Mon, Nov 11^th

Most of the 680 illegal immigrants nabbed in August's immigration raids at poultry plants in Mississippi worked under stolen American identities, the Department of Homeland Security's top investigator told the House Homeland Security Committee Thursday, rebuffing those who insisted the "undocumented" workers were doing no harm.

Court Observers Expect Justices to Allow Pres. Trump to End DACA

Thi, Nov 14^th

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case challenging President Trump's decision to end DACA. Most who sat in on the session anticipate that the Justices will side with the Administration. It remains to be seen whether or not the Court will rule on the constitutionality of President Obama's executive amnesty.