Hollywood and tech leaders have begun mobilizing following reports that President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Tuesday that he will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, with a six-month delay.
Actor George Takei called the move “cruel, divisive and politically motivated,” while director Rob Reiner concluded: “Unfortunately there is no other way to say this: Donald J. Trump is a heartless prick.”
Major tech leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg also decried the move and urged Congress to pass legislation for protection of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children with parents who entered the country illegally or stayed without proper documentation.
Implemented by the Obama Administration in 2012, DACA allows those young immigrants to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible to receive a work permit.
If Trump follows through with his plans, current DACA recipients will be at risk of deportation.
Hollywood stars, politicians and business leaders reacted to the report with strong disapproval, condemning Trump for planning to lift the program and urging the Republican-controlled Congress to come up with a replacement.
250 of my Apple coworkers are #Dreamers. I stand with them. They deserve our respect as equals and a solution rooted in American values.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 3, 2017
#Trump expected to end #DACA! I guess he thinks Nothing brings America together like tearing families apart! #TeamDl
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) September 4, 2017
I stand with #Dreamers who make our country stronger. Check out the thread below to see how you can defend DACA now. https://t.co/AedjihqnPG
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) September 4, 2017
This Dreamer Died Saving Harvey Flood Victims. His Body Was Found The Day Reports Surfaced Trump Will Kill DACA | https://t.co/OzVOwkMmEF
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) September 4, 2017
Join me in the resistance to Drumpf demand elected officials publicly support #DACA #HereToStay https://t.co/4AyDXMkvzz via @unitedwedream
— Frances Fisher (@Frances_Fisher) September 4, 2017
Seems like standing up for children against Trump & his Alt-Right compadres about Ending DACA should be a home run for the Pro-Life crew.
— Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) September 4, 2017
he has none – zero https://t.co/DAXngr9PtH
— ROSIE (@Rosie) September 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/HereIsGina/status/904751920086040576
Ending DACA would be Trump’s most evil act https://t.co/PkwyDFQOi3
— Mia Farrow?? (@MiaFarrow) September 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/jonnyjlm/status/904781487756775424
I stand with you. #DefendDREAMers https://t.co/PVS1otaXk8
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) September 4, 2017
Imagine if the president could understand that the recipients of DACA ARE the Americans he's been tasked with protecting #saveDACA
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) September 4, 2017
This is a #Dreamer. This is #DACA. https://t.co/N1m5pMAxGa
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) September 4, 2017
Meanwhile, @realDonaldTrump, who has never shown an ounce of compassion or made a single sacrifice for anyone, decides to end DACA. https://t.co/SUxH4ZTZgA
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) September 4, 2017
Ending DACA would be nothing short of heartless. It's on us to demand a vote on the DREAM Act. We must stand with our Dreamers. https://t.co/pi30H6mA1J
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/904550824944082944
There is no economic, national security or social cohesion rationale for ending DACA. This is purely Trump's nod to racial resentment.
— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid ? (@JoyAnnReid) September 4, 2017
.@POTUS reported decision to end #DACA is a disgrace, & I promise that I will fight to protect #Dreamers in Minnesota and across our nation.
— U.S. Senator Al Franken (@SenFranken) September 4, 2017
Trump’s plan to deport Dreamers in 6 mos. is cruel, divisive and politically motivated. Shame on him, and shame on us for electing him.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 4, 2017
Unfortunately there is no other way to say this: Donald J. Trump is a heartless prick.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) September 4, 2017
Our country should protect children. Period. This should not be even a discussion.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 4, 2017