Dozens gather outside Sen. Pat Toomey's office in support of DACA

PITTSBURGH -- About 50 people rallied outside Sen. Pat Toomey’s Downtown office Tuesday in support of an immigration program for children and demanded that Mr. Toomey help stop deportations of illegal immigrants.

The looming threat to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — which has granted temporary benefits to over 800,000 children of immigrants who entered the country illegally — grew when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and officials from nine other states urged President Donald Trump in June to end the Obama-era policy.

Protesters outside Mr. Toomey’s voiced their concern about the racial overtones they say have permeated the conversation about immigration and are worried that the DACA program’s end would discontinue benefits like legal work permits and driver’s licenses that many immigrants depend on.

The move by Mr. Paxton established a Sept. 5 ultimatum that casts doubt on the continuation of the policy.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/08/15/DACA-protest-Downtown-PIttsburgh-Senator-Pat-Toomey-office-immigration-children/stories/201708150098