Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel has sought to calm immigrants' fears that they will get kicked out of their homes, following a decision from President Trump to scrap the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy.
In an address at a high school, he told the crowd: "To all the dreamers that are here in this room and the city of Chicago: you are welcome in the city of Chicago. This is your home and you have nothing to worry about.
"Chicago, our schools, our neighbourhoods, our city, as it relates to what President Trump said, will be a Trump-free zone. You have nothing to worry about."
Credit: Mayor Rahm Emanuel/Twitter
The phrase 'Trump-free zone' sparked speculation that Mr Emanuel had banned the President from the city, although the announcement was simply a confirmation that he would do everything he could to ensure that the removal of the DACA program wouldn't affect immigrants in Chicago.
The policy was introduced during the Obama administration in 2012 and offered renewable protection from being deported for two years, for those who entered the US before they were 16 years old. Applicants had to have lived in America since 2007 and have a clean criminal record as well.
But the Trump administration has decided to get rid of DACA, because, according to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, it allowed an 'open-ended circumvention of immigration laws'.
Mr Obama tried to appeal to his successor to keep the program: "Whatever concerns or complaints Americans may have about immigration in general, we shouldn't threaten the future of this group of young people who are here through no fault of their own, who pose no threat, who are not taking away anything from the rest of us.
Credit: PA
"These dreamers are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper."
Mayor Emanuel released a statement shortly after the decision to scrap the program was announced: "President Trump's decision to end DACA is not only harmful to these young people, it strikes a blow against our core American values and is an affront to basic human decency."
But he is not alone in his criticisms - the decision has already attracted ire from major US technology companies. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has issued a plea for people angry about the decision to contact their representatives in Congress.
Advert
"The decision to end Daca is not just wrong," he said.
"It is particularly cruel to offer young people the American dream, encourage them to come out of the shadows and trust our government, and then punish them for it."
Microsoft has pledged to defend any employee in court who faces deportation, while its rival, Apple, says it will work with Congress and support those staff members at risk.
Advert
Sources: The Independent, The Guardian
Topics: President Trump, Trump, Immigration, Politics