Republicans introduce bill to repeal DACA in Congress
House Republicans have filed legislation to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, echoing former President Donald Trump's long-standing opposition to it. The move comes amid ongoing debates over immigration policy as the Dream Act faces renewed scrutiny. Proponents argue it restores congressional authority on immigration.
The bill, introduced on September 25, 2025, by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by over 100 Republican members, seeks to formally repeal DACA, a policy established by executive order in 2012 under President Barack Obama. DACA provides temporary protection from deportation and work permits to approximately 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as Dreamers.
Trump, who attempted to terminate DACA during his presidency in 2017, praised the effort in a statement on September 27, saying, 'DACA was an unconstitutional overreach that bypassed Congress—it's time to end it and secure our borders.' The Supreme Court blocked his administration's repeal in 2020, ruling on procedural grounds, but the program's future remains precarious without legislative action.
Background context reveals DACA's origins in response to congressional inaction on comprehensive immigration reform. The Dream Act, first proposed in 2001, would grant permanent legal status to Dreamers but has repeatedly failed to pass, most recently in 2024 during bipartisan negotiations that collapsed over border security disputes.
Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the Republican bill as 'cruel and politically motivated,' noting in a floor speech that 'these young people have known no other home—they contribute to our economy and society.' Advocacy groups like United We Dream warned that repeal could lead to mass deportations, affecting Dreamers in fields from healthcare to tech.
The legislation faces slim chances in the Democrat-controlled Senate, but House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated it could advance if tied to broader border funding. As of September 28, no vote date has been scheduled, leaving Dreamers in limbo amid rising political tensions ahead of the 2026 midterms.
This development underscores ongoing partisan divides on immigration, with Republicans prioritizing enforcement and Democrats advocating for pathways to citizenship. No contradictions appear in reporting across sources, though exact co-sponsor numbers vary slightly between 102 and 105.