Sen. Lankford on DACA: ‘We as Americans do not hold children’ accountable parents’ actions

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) on Monday responded to a report that said President Trump will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, saying the United States does not “hold children legally accountable for the actions of their parents.”

“It is right for there to be consequences for those who intentionally entered this country illegally,” Lankford said in a statement. “However, we as Americans do not hold children legally accountable for the actions of their parents.”

The statement comes after Politico reported Sunday that Trump has decided to end the program, which temporarily prevented the deportation of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors and pursued work permits, with a six-month delay.

Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have urged Trump not to terminate the program. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said last week that Trump should not end the program and that it is up to Congress to address DACA.

{mosads}”We must confront the nation’s out-of-date immigration policy and finally resolve the issues of strong border enforcement and merit immigration,” Lankford said.

“Policy reform must come from the American people through Congress. The Legislative and Executive Branch should put aside passivity and partisanship and finally modernize our immigration laws.”

Trump centered his presidential campaign around a strong immigration policy, vowing to build a wall on the United States-Mexico border and to end DACA immediately if he were to be elected.