15 states, DC sue Trump administration over ending DACA

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia sued the U.S. government Wednesday to block President Donald Trump’s plan to end protection against deportation for young immigrants who New York’s attorney general labeled the “best of America.”

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Brooklyn asked a judge to strike down as unconstitutional the president’s action involving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.

It called the move “a culmination of President Trump’s oft-stated commitments ... to punish and disparage people with Mexican roots.”

The attorneys general who brought the lawsuit – all Democrats – represent states where the population of DACA participants – known as “dreamers”– ranges from hundreds to tens of thousands. They were brought to the U.S. illegally as children or came with families who overstayed visas.

Trump’s plan is “cruel, shortsighted, inhumane” and driven by a personal bias against Mexicans and Latinos, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said.

He said the 42,000 New Yorkers with protected status under the program are largely model citizens.

“They are the best of America,” Schneiderman said.

“Dreamers play by the rules. Dreamers work hard. Dreamers pay taxes. For most of them, America is the only home they’ve ever known. And they deserve to stay here,” he added, using the term that came from a failed piece of legislation called the DREAM Act.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum called the government’s action “indefensible” and said Trump was “playing chicken” by giving Congress six months to improve DACA or cancel it.

Devin M. O’Malley, a Justice Department spokesman, said the agency looks forward to defending the administration’s position.