Senate committee postpones DACA hearing

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday postponed a scheduled hearing on a program that shields young immigrants from deportation.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) made the call to push back the hearing on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration program, originally set for Wednesday.

The statement did not specify when the hearing will be rescheduled, which is up to “the call of the chair.”

The committee, according to NBC News reporter Frank Thorp V, postponed the hearing because the Trump administration said it was focused on hurricane response and recovery efforts. Disaster relief has crowded onto the agenda after hurricanes and heavy rains in Texas and Florida.

The House voted last week to provide $7.85 billion in Hurricane Harvey disaster relief to Texas and Louisiana.

Lawmakers are grappling with what to do for DACA recipients following the Justice Department’s announcement last week that the program will be phased out over the next six months.

The Obama-era program has protected about 800,000 immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as minors from deportation. Many have work permits or are attending school.