Majority of Americans support keeping Dreamers in America

An overwhelming majority of Americans support allowing undocumented migrants who were brought into the United States as children to remain, a new poll has shown.

No less than 80 percent of voters said that “Dreamers” should be allowed “to remain and eventually apply for citizenship”, found the poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, the results of which were released this week. Only 16 percent said they should not be allowed to stay.

“Every listed group supports Dreamers by wide margins,” said a press release from the university.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme was implemented under former President Barack Obama and shields immigrants who came to the US illegally as children – known as Dreamers – from deportation.

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts to comments during a meeting with members of Congress and U.S. law enforcement about crime and immigration issues, specifically the MS-13 gang, at the White House in Washington, U.S. February 6, 2018. Source: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Trump announced his intention to end the program last September, leaving around 800,000 people registered with DACA uncertain as to their futures.

The Quinnipiac University Poll found that 63 percent of voters think Trump wants Dreamers to be deported. Only Republicans thought that Trump wants Dreamers to remain in the US.

High profile leaders including the Pope, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Microsoft founder Bill Gates have publicly criticised the president’s move to end the program.

Californian universities have vowed to defend Dreamers, continuing to allow Dreamers to enrol, pay in-state tuition and receive financial help despite changes in federal policy.

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