Trump: No DACA Commitment, But ‘We’re Going To Show Great Heart’

Yadira Garcia, left, of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, holds up a sign in protest as she joins young immigrants as they sit in the waiting area of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Phoenix. Br... Yadira Garcia, left, of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, holds up a sign in protest as she joins young immigrants as they sit in the waiting area of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012, in Phoenix. Brewer's order issued Wednesday says she's reaffirming the intent of current Arizona law denying taxpayer-funded public benefits and state identification to illegal immigrants. Young illegal immigrants could start applying Wednesday with the federal government for work permits under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The program defers deportations for young illegal immigrants if they meet certain criteria. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) MORE LESS
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President Donald Trump did not commit to the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program Thursday. But he said he would “show great heart” in determining the future of hundreds of thousands undocumented young people who were allowed to stay in the United States by the Obama administration.

Trump was asked about DACA during a boisterous, impromptu press conference Thursday afternoon.

“We’re going to show great heart,” he said of the future of the program. “DACA is a very, very difficult subject for me, I will tell you. To me it’s one of the most difficult subjects I have, because you have these incredible kids, in many cases. Not in all cases; in some of the cases they’re having DACA and they’re gang members and drug dealers, too. But you have some absolutely incredible kids. I would say mostly.”

One such DACA recipient, Daniel Ramirez Medina, was recently arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Seattle. Ramirez sued the government in response, demanding his release.

“They were brought here in such a way – It’s a very, very tough subject,” Trump said. “We’re going to deal with DACA with heart. I have to deal with a lot of politicians, don’t forget. And I have to convince them that what I’m saying is right. And I appreciate your understanding on that.”

“But the DACA situation is a very, very – it’s a very difficult thing for me, because, you know, I love these kids. I love kids. I have kids. And grandkids. And I find it very, very hard doing what the law says exactly to do. The law is rough. I’m not talking new laws. I’m talking the existing law is very rough. It’s very, very rough.”

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