Religious leaders press Trump not to end DACA: report

More than 300 religious leaders will send letters to President Trump on Sunday urging him not to eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Politico reported.

The letters, which were organized by the Evangelical Immigration Table, will be sent to the president, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), according to the news outlet. 

{mosads}The report comes as speculation mounts that Trump will repeal the Obama-era program, which temporarily extends deportation relief to people illegally brought to the U.S. as minors who applied for work permits.

Over 800,000 people brought to the country illegally as children have received work permits and deferral from deportation under the program. 

Members of both sides of the aisle have urged Trump not to end the program, including Ryan and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

The religious leaders’ letters will also reportedly press Trump to work with lawmakers to pass legislation for the so-called Dreamers, who under the DREAM Act would have been provided many of the same protections. That measure was never approved in Congress after it was introduced over a decade ago.