Trump gets little sympathy on DACA decision

The reaction in Ohio to President Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, was swift and largely one-sided.On the Republican side, Ohio Gov. John Kasich referred to DACA recipient Jesus Contreras, a Houston-area paramedic who worked on Hurricane Harvey relief efforts."People like Mr. Contreras deserve thanks," the governor, who has not been shy in his criticism of the president, tweeted. Trump "needs to give Dreamers certainty that USA is home."What Trump said in April: 'Rest easy Dreamers'But U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R–Urbana, a hard-right conservative whose district includes parts of Huron County, supported the decision."One of my favorite jobs as a representative of the 4th District is participating in naturalization ceremonies for immigrants who have worked hard, followed the law and are becoming citizens of the U.S," Jordan told the Columbus Dispatch. "We need to make sure that anyone who wants to come to the U.S. follows the law, and we do that by enforcing our current immigration laws and reforming them where needed, and through securing the border, not through a blanket amnesty program that insults the hard-working immigrants who followed the rules." Jordan's statement was the most supportive of Trump's decision, which pushed the status of children of unlawful immigrants in Congress' lap to craft immigration reform. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, condemned the president's position."President Trump promised to go after violent criminals, not innocent children," said Brown. "We should not be targeting young people who are working, going to school, paying taxes and contributing to this country — the country they grew up in and the only home they've ever known."Brown said he supports the DREAM Act and also supported the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed the Senate in 2013 to increase border security and create a path to citizenship for those willing to work for it — like those under the DACA program.U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, whose 9th Congressional district stretches from Toledo to Cleveland and includes Ottawa and Erie counties, also called for restraint, and said Congress should take immediate action. "The President should not threaten the legal status of Dreamers. The United States is the only home many Dreamers have ever known," said Kaptur. "If DACA is rescinded without a legislative fix, more families and communities will be ripped apart. Keeping families together is the right thing to do. Congress should act swiftly, in a bipartisan manner, to codify the DACA program into law."Dreamers deserve support, she said. "We must stand up for these young people whose economic and cultural contributions make our nation stronger," Kaptur said.According to the Center for American Progress, there are 4,400 Dreamers in Ohio. Kaptur's office, in a statement, said they contribute about $250 million to the state's GDP. Ohio's other senator, Rob Protman, a Republican, did not respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon that he would issue a statement "shortly," but he hadn't as of early evening Tuesday. On being leaderlyOhio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper, in a social media comment, questioned Trump's ability to lead.A leader would work with Congress "to pass comprehensive immigration reform," Pepper said.But Trump's approach is to tell Congress to "solve immigration or 800,000 go," referring to the estimated number of Dreamers in the country who could become eligible for deportation. "He's the President. How about he propose and work a plan through Congress. That's what leadership looks like. This is passing the buck on actually leading."Contreras, the Dreamer Gov. Kasich cited who worked relief efforts in Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, was sickened last week when word of Trump'sdecision first leaked out. "Hearing that my future in the United States is being threatened and possibly taken away was disheartening, it was disappointing," the 23-year-old told Ohio's Voice, an advocacy group. "It was like getting an extra kick to the face when you're already down."Lynn Tramonte, director of Ohio's Voice, said she and other advocates were grateful Kasich took a stand. ."We appreciate the governor's statement, and need clarity from other Ohio leaders. Attorney General Mike DeWine helped create the conditions for this manufactured crisis over DACA. He got our state involved in the original lawsuit that Texas is threatening to amend to attack DACA. We need to know where he stands on DACA," she said. DeWine, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Ohio governor, did not immediately respond to an inquiry sent to his campaign. Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan; and numerous other House and Senate Republicans have said President Trump should keep DACA in place while Congress works on a legislative solution."DeWine would be in good company if he stood up for Dreamers and told Texas and the President that they should stop threatening to kill DACA," Tramonte said.She saved her sharpest criticism for the president."President Trump took the coward's way out today, using his maligned Attorney General to deliver life-altering news to thousands of young people nationwide. Imagine if you learned today that your ability pay for school, work in the job you trained for, support your family, even drive on the road legally was about to end. This is your home, but your own government refuses to recognize you. How would you feel?"She said the actions Tuesday by Trump and Sessions were "cruel and unnecessary.""Most Americans did not want them to end DACA and put young people who've grown up here back in line for deportation. The Administration deserves all of the wrath and outrage it is getting."From left, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman.