US President Donald Trump says a program to protect immigrants brought into the US illegally as children is “probably dead,” blaming Democrats.
“DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military,” Trump tweeted on Sunday referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).
Trump also said he wants immigrants coming to the US “based on merit.”
“I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said.
Former US President Barack Obama created the DACA program in 2012 to enable some young undocumented immigrants in the country to obtain two-year permits to stay legally, work and attend school.
Since it went into effect, roughly 800,000 young immigrants, commonly known…