Thread by @TomJawetz

Now that we have DHS's official response to the Supreme Court's #DACA decision, a few things are clear. /1 dhs.gov/sites/default/…

The Trump administration remains as fixated as ever on ending DACA AND they remain as terrified as ever at being held responsible for that decision.

The refusal to own the decision to end DACA in 2017 played a big role in the Court's decision to vacate the rescission. /2

With an election on the horizon, Trump's anti-immigrant attacks weighing him down, and control over the Senate turning on states with sizable immigrant and Latinx populations, this memo is designed to distract people from the fact that it promises an end to DACA if Trump wins. /3

For weeks, the administration has illegally refused to comply with the #SCOTUS ruling. Its failure to do so kept at least 300,000 people locked out of #DACA, including 55,500 who aged into eligibility over the past 3 years while the admin pursued its illegal rescission. /4

This memo keeps those people locked out. And the most galling thing about that material change to 2012 DACA is that they can't provide a justification for the decision b/c the memo promises they'll furrow their brows and think deeply about ending DACA in the months ahead. /5

Rather, they simply say that people who don't yet have DACA can't possibly have any reliance interests on the program--as if people saving $ to apply for the program, or teenagers waiting to age in haven't built #DACA into their life plans all these years. /6

Moreover, current DACA recipients are given the chance to apply for 1-year renewals rather than 2-year renewals, but will be charged the same exorbitant fee ($495, but the admin is separately looking to hike that to $765).

A 55% price hike to deliver just 50% of the benefit. /7

This administration cannot be trusted to hold the fate of #DACA recipients in its hands for one more second.

More than 1 year ago, the House passed H.R. 6 to provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers and TPS holders.

The Senate must pass that legislation NOW. /8

This memorandum also makes perfectly clear that the Trump administration will never stop attacking #DACA recipients and their families. They may not want to end DACA before the election, but they are telling us that is their plan for after the election.

VOTE /9

Finally, @JoeBiden was right when he said we're in a battle over the soul of this country.

If securing protections for immigrants--the group most targeted for attack throughout the Trump administration--is not at the very, very top of the priority list it is not good enough. /10

My official @amprog statement is here. /11 americanprogress.org/press/statemen…

.@SenatorDurbin just asked the Senate for unanimous consent to take up and pass #HR6.

Senator Lankford (R-OK) objected.

Doesn't look like @JohnCornyn, @SenMcSallyAZ, @SenThomTillis, @sendavidperdue, @SenJoniErnst, or @CoryGardner are anywhere in sight.

https://twitter.com/SenatorDurbin/status/1288227137887993857?s=20

One more thing. Here is the AG Barr memo withdrawing the AG Sessions letter that the Supreme Court relied upon in saying that DHS was bound by DOJ’s view that DACA is illegal.

Barr withdrew it so DHS would have full discretion in deciding how to proceed. dhs.gov/sites/default/…

DHS under Trump today chose to use that discretion to inexplicably and unjustifiably slash protections for current DACA recipients in half and to block hundreds of thousands of eligible people from applying.

They own this.

Arlette Morales has placed her hopes and dreams into receiving protection from #DACA.

This is the reliance Chad Wolf dismissed as nonexistent.

“This is the foundation for my [higher] education, for my life here, but I’m really hopeful.” #HomeIsHere
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