UPDATE: At Thursday's White House press briefing, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration has not yet made a final decision on DACA.
***Original Post***
President Trump is ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Fox News has learned from a senior White House official. The initiative, enforced under President Obama, does not provide legal status, but it would allow certain illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as minors protection from immediate deportation.
BREAKING NEWS: Fox News has learned @POTUS will end "#DACA" program as it currently exists. pic.twitter.com/TUj1uGoPbB
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 31, 2017
Fox explains which individuals qualify for DACA status.
Individuals are able to request DACA status if they were under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012, came to the U.S. before turning 16 and have continuously lived in the country since June 15, 2007.
Individuals must also have a high school diploma, GED certification, been honorably discharged from the military or still be in school. Recipients cannot have a criminal record.
The program covers about 800,000 youth who came here illegally.
Trump railed against the DACA program as "amnesty" during the 2016 presidential campaign. Yet, as late as April he took a softer tone on the program, even noting that people benefiting from the initiative could "rest easy."
Should today's report prove true, liberal Democrats are urging Congress to take immediate steps to protect DREAMers.
If @realDonaldTrump ends #DACA, Congress must swiftly pass legislation to protect Dreamers. It is morally right and good for our nation.
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) August 31, 2017