Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today introduced a bill to prevent the continuation or expansion of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Blackburn’s legislation will serve as the House companion to a bill recently introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). The legislation proposed by Congressman Blackburn and Senator Cruz would prohibit federal funding from being used to continue or expand DACA. It also prevents aliens from being authorized to work if they are not in a lawful status. “Central American children have fled to the United States based on a false hope that they will be allowed to remain permanently. This false hope created by the Obama Administration is putting children’s lives in danger as they are escorted by individuals who have been known to abuse these children during their journey and even leave some for dead,” Blackburn said. “It is now clear that the Obama Administration saw this problem coming and that children were used as pawns in the President’s political game. President Obama’s failure to act has forced Congress, once again, to lead the effort to address the crisis on our border.” President Obama through Executive Memorandum created DACA in June 2012. The policy became effective on August 15, 2012 and employs “prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual..” Removal can be deferred for two years and is subject to renewal. Customs and Border Protection projects a 1,381% increase in the number of unaccompanied minors who will arrive in our country in FY2014. “I am honored to work with Rep. Blackburn on this critical legislation,” said Sen. Cruz, “The only way to stop the border crisis is to stop President Obama’s amnesty. If we do not put an end to its expansion – to the promise of amnesty that is the reason so many are coming – then more little boys and girls will be trafficked, abused, and even killed. We have an obligation to make sure that not one more child is hurt by this president’s lawlessness.” “Giving the Administration a $3.7 billion emergency check is the not answer,” said Blackburn. “The lawless policies of this Administration are to blame and they must be fixed. I look forward to working with Senator Cruz in this effort to freeze the Administration’s DACA Program, which has been the root cause of unaccompanied minors crossing our Southern border.” Click here to read the full text of Blackburn's legislation. - See more at: http://blackburn.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3886...