Democrats keep using the same word to describe Trump's DACA decision
Thomson Reuters
A host of Democratic politicians have criticized President Donald Trump's decision on Tuesday to phase out the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals policy, which protects from deportation people who are living in the US illegally after being brought to the country as minors.
In doing so, many of them homed in on one word in particular to describe the decision: cruel.
Leading the charge was former President Barack Obama, who enacted the DACA policy through an executive order in 2012. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Obama called the White House's decision "self-defeating" and "cruel" because it would send the children of immigrants back to countries they barely remember, and in some cases, don't know the language.
"To target these young people is wrong – because they have done nothing wrong," Obama said.
Former Vice President Joe Biden used the same language as Obama, saying in a Facebook post that deporting DACA recipients is "cruel."
"It is inhumane. And it is not America," Biden said.
And the same word popped up in the statement from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who called Trump's decision "a cruel act of political cowardice."
The three were far from the only Democrats to use the word on Tuesday and Wednesday. Take a look at what other members of the party had to say.
Eric Holder, Attorney General under Obama:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905118528759627777
Undoing #DACA unnecessary & cruel.Extremists favor this-not majority. Inconsistent with who we say we are as a nation. Dreamers-good for USA
Rep. Adam Schiff of California:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905123454302560256
President Trump's cruel #DACA decision means one thing: hundreds of thousands of DREAMers stand to lose everything. Congress must act now.
Ben Rhodes, national security adviser to Obama:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905238861026131972
If you don't want to end DACA then...your Administration shouldn't end DACA. You can't blame Obama for your cruel incompetence. https://t.co/qp0BqAnNP0
Rep. Barbara Lee of California:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905091101601796097
Ending #DACA is cruel and heartless. Congress must act now to protect #DREAMers and pass comprehensive immigration reform once and for all.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with the Democratic Party:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905189327218638853
Trump's decision on DACA is the ugliest and most cruel decision ever made by a president of the U.S. in the modern history of this country. pic.twitter.com/3k64uuo2XM
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/904814389924175874
To the youngsters who fear @realdonaldtrump's cruel plan to end #DACA: Don't give up; many will fight for DREAM Act.
Sen. Kamala Harris of California:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905091882979643392
1. @SenKamalaHarris statement on #DACA pic.twitter.com/j5WDBwGHki
Rep. Ted Lieu of California:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905089682974818304
Dear @realDonaldTrump: Deporting Asian & Latino #DACA students does not improve the lives of any Americans. But it does make you super cruel https://t.co/QSb7vYRFoY
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905087338270875649
Sen. Murphy on ending DACA: "It takes someone with a dark heart to do something as cruel and pointless as this" pic.twitter.com/b4kqGBO7sP
Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/905113495284445185
How can an American President be so cruel? #DACA
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