Senator Ted Cruz introduced legislation Thursday, July 17, that would prevent the federal government from using taxpayer funds to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, was authored by the Obama administration in 2012 with the intention of introducing prosecutorial discretion towards some illegal alien children and allowing some individuals to work in the country without a legal status.

“The staggering conditions that children are being subjected to are a direct result of the amnesty that President Obama illegally and unilaterally enacted in 2012, which caused the number of unaccompanied minors to skyrocket,” Senator Cruz said. “The only way to stop the border crisis is to stop President Obama’s amnesty.”

Moving forward Senator Cruz said that he will push three legislative reforms that would stymie the flow of illegal immigration and protect the border. Cruz has also announced his intention to introduce legislation next week that would expedite the humane return of illegals to their home country.

“We all recognize the terrible humanitarian crisis that is occurring at the border, and all of us should come together to end the policies that have caused it,” said Senator Cruz. “Tens of thousands of children are being smuggled into the United States by dangerous drug cartels and transnational gangs; it is heartless to allow that to continue."

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