Republican and Democratic lawmakers are calling for a permanent immigration solution for people who were brought illegally to the country as children, as a President Barack Obama-era program phases out legal protections for “dreamers.”

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Howland, on Tuesday condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that gave Social Security numbers, work permits and other federal benefits to the 800,000 young adults and teens. However, Republicans said it was about time the executive branch left immigration policies to the legislative branch, but they did not fault the people who have benefited from the program over the last five years.

“Those in the DACA program are here through no fault of their own, and for many this is the only country they know. I agree that Congress should act rather than continue the Obama administration’s unconstitutional executive action,” said Sen. Rob Portman, D-Ohio. “I support bipartisan efforts to find a permanent solution that will allow those in the DACA program to stay here and continue to contribute to our society. I believe we can and should respect the rule of law while also dealing with this issue in a humane and compassionate way, and that’s the approach I believe the administration and members of both parties in Congress should take as we look at legislative solutions on this issue.”

In a statement about the repeal, Trump noted Congress has failed on several occasions to pass legislation on the topic, but also encouraged its members to try again. The program is being gradually phased out to give Congress time, Trump stated. Though no new applications will be processed, those who already have been granted the status will be able to keep their work permits until their original expiration date, up to two years.

But Ryan and Brown said the administration is focusing its attention on the wrong group of people.

“President Trump promised to go after violent criminals, not innocent children. 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.

Ryan said the move was “heartless” and amounted to a “betrayal of his promise to respond ‘with great heart’ to this issue. His choice to pursue this action instead of using our finite resources to go after criminals who have broken our country’s most serious laws shows that his priorities are not in order.”

Trump said he is not in “favor of punishing children” brought to the United States, but the laws written by Congress, not the former president, must prevail. And the justice system will continue to focus on cracking down on undocumented immigrants who are committing crimes or involved in gang activity, Trump said.

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Russell, said DACA never should have happened in the first place.

“DACA was an abuse of executive authority when it was created. The president was correct to give Congress time to solve the issue. It is now up to Congress to come up with a bipartisan solution that should include stronger border security and reforms to the immigration system,” Joyce said.

Obama had no authority to pursue the program, said Kevin Wyndham, Trumbull County Republican Party chairman, whether or not the terms are good for the country.

The president’s decision ought to force Congress to act on immigration reform, Wyndham said.

“Everyone on both sides recognizes that immigration reform is needed but it won’t ever happen unless seemingly drastic actions like this are taken,” Wyndham said.

Ryan said it is important for Congress to act fast because DACA recipients pay taxes, enlist in the military and go to college here — “the only county they have ever known and loved.”

“We should be focusing on comprehensive immigration reform: a long-term solution for fixing our broken immigration system. We can secure our border through smart investments in advanced border technologies while providing a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are here and abiding by our laws,” Ryan said.

rfox@tribtoday.com