PHOENIX — President Donald Trump’s tweet early Thursday morning about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, left some wondering what he meant exactly, with many Twitter users expressing confusion.
Two days after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced a six-month phase-out of the Obama’s administration program, the president suggested that DACA recipients had “nothing to worry about” during “the six-month period.”
For all of those (DACA) that are concerned about your status during the 6 month period, you have nothing to worry about – No action!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 7 de septiembre de 2017
DACA, which －among other things－gave a two-year protection from deportation and a work permit to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. before the age of 16, was rescinded by the current administration earlier this week.
The current administration’s decision to end the DACA program involves three deadlines:
1) The six-month deadline given to Congress to come up with an immigration bill.
2) The requirement of the six-month period regarding expiration dates for DACA renewals. Only DACA recipients whose permit expires between Sept. 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018 －within the next six months －can renew their permit.
3) The 30-day period these DACA recipients have in order to renew their permit started Sept. 5, 2017 and ends on Oct. 5, 2017.
It is important to note, no new applications are being received, and renewals that were done before Sept. 5, 2017 will continue their process. In addition, eligible DACA recipients still need to apply for the renewal before Oct. 5.
Online reactions came immediately after the president’s tweet, most of them focusing on the message that DACA holders did not need to worry during the next six months.
One Twitter user found irony in the expectation that DACA recipients could find relief in such a short period of time before they had to worry about deportation.
That’s like telling someone who has six months to live that they have nothing to worry about for six months.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) 7 de septiembre de 2017
Six Months to find a place to live in Mexico for your entire family. What a deal.
— Curtiss Brown (@Sandalbar) 7 de septiembre de 2017
Others questioned what DACA recipients would do after the six-month period.
Ummm and what about after 6 months? What’s the point of creating an arbitrary deadline to mess with people’s heads?
— Greg Shugar (@GregShugar) 7 de septiembre de 2017
After that, do they have to worry? If so, how can they not start worrying now? Seems unnecessarily disruptive to pull plug with no plan.
— Joe Mandese (@jmandese) 7 de septiembre de 2017
How can you say that? Worry is all they will be doing for those 6 months.
— Robin B. (@sheenasmom82) 7 de septiembre de 2017
However, there were also users who praised the president’s decision to terminate DACA renewals within the next six months, with some adding the period was too long.
Thanks Mr. President, now it’s time for our legislators to do their job and come together to keep America great. Politics aside
— Gustavo Torres (@GustavoJrTorres) 7 de septiembre de 2017
What?! But you promised! Get them outta here so they’ll quit taking and taking! There’s legal aliens and real Americans that can benefit!
— Glen Coleman (@coleman4868) 7 de septiembre de 2017
The president, meanwhile, also tweeted he will “revisit the issue” if Congress does not meet its deadline.
Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama Administration was unable to do). If they can’t, I will revisit this issue!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 6 de septiembre de 2017