Arlington Officials Denounce DACA Decision

ARLINGTON, VA — As the Trump Administration presses forward with rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy, or DACA, which protects about 800,000 immigrants who were brought into the country unlawfully as children, supporters have taken to the streets across the country to defend the program.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced at a press conference Tuesday that DACA — officially the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals Program — will begin winding down. Sessions did not take questions.

The Arlington County Board said they are "gravely disappointed with President Trump's decision" in a statement blasting the DACA decision.

Watch: Obama Calls Trump's DACA Decision 'Cruel' And Contrary To Common Sense

"The young people protected under DACA have gone to school, saluted our flag and served in our armed services. Many never knew they were not citizens until they looked for a job or applied to college. They have made many contributions to our nation," the statement reads. "Arlington’s own DACA recipients have been an integral part of this County through their academic achievements in Arlington Public Schools and their leadership in the community."

(Disagree with the board? Support the DACA decision? Let us know why! Send an op-ed with your full name and town of residence to cameron.luttrell@patch.com)

Starting Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security will not accept any new applications for DACA. Registration in the program lasts for two years. Anyone whose registration expires in the next six months will have until Oct. 5 to apply for another two-year extension.

But after DACA recipients' registrations expire outside the six-month window, they will not be able to reapply. This means, in part, that the hundreds of thousands of people who received work permits under the program will be forced to leave their jobs once their registrations expire. CNN's Jim Acosta reported that, essentially, people who were under the DACA umbrella will be treated as undocumented immigrants once their registrations expire.

"Arlington again reaffirms its commitment as a welcoming community that recognizes, respects and supports the contributions of all its members. Today, Arlington stands especially with these young people, our Dreamers and DACA recipients," the statement reads.

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Photo by Matt York/Associated Press