Remember this is a tarbaby issue - the Dems know the "Dreamers" are sympathetic and have been pushing the matter with an eye toward the November elections. If Trump starts deporting these folks, the Dems will make it a front and center issue this fall. Indeed, solving the problem now is exactly what the Dems do NOT want.
I'll say it again - there's an obvious solution here. Trump should drop his challenge of the court order and continue to let the 700,000 who applied to renew their applications and maintain their status. What are the advantages of this "grandfathering" approach?
- It defuses the political issue: those who had the gumption to come forward and apply will be able to continue working "above ground" without fear of deportation (assuming they continue to satisfy their obligations under the existing program). Trump will come across as compassionate, and willing to do what he is not necessarily obligated to do (we don't yet know whether the court order will be upheld).
- Those in the program will be frozen at 700,000. All the proposals I've seen would have expanded the group to double or triple that number, and even included temporary relief for their parents. By accepting the court order, Trump limits DACA to those who've already relied to their detriment on the program, so it cannot be expanded except in conjunction with other changes that satisfy Trump's priorities on border security, etc.
- The 700,000 would be "normalized", but not provided with a pathway to citizenship except in conjunction with a larger deal.