Immigration

THE BIG IDEA: Could there be tapes after all?

Two stories that popped overnight suggest that special counsel Robert Mueller is aggressively pursuing Paul Manafort, the former chairman of President Trump's campaign.

Immigration lawyers and university staff discussed the impact of President Donald Trump's decision to end a program that deferred deportationfor thousands of undocumented individuals at a panel Thursday.

On Tuesday, Trump ended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program enacted by former President Barack Obama in 2012 that deferred deportations for undocumented individuals brought to the United States as children. The program helped thousands of undocumented individuals receive work permits, open bank accounts and obtain driver's licenses in certain states.

The Trump administration's decision Tuesday to punt the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to Congress prompted strong criticism from South Bay elected officials to the immigration policy change that could affect tens of thousands of Californians.

Here's a sample of the reaction from prominent local Democrats:

"DACA is an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch."

— Attorney General Jeff Sessions

"Only by the reliable enforcement of immigration law can we produce safe communities, a robust middle class, and economic fairness for all Americans."

— President Donald Trump

"Congress, get ready to do your job - DACA!"

— Trump, via Twitter

As reports circulated Sunday night about President Trump's plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, also known as the DACA, Democrats took to Twitter to share their thoughts and reactions.

"If Trump decides to end DACA, it will be one of the ugliest and cruelest decisions ever made by a president in our modern history," tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

Protests are expected to continue Monday in downtown Los Angeles amid reports President Trump plans to end support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, with a six-month delay to allow Congress to come up with an alternative.

The program, known as DACA and introduced by former President Barack Obama in 2012, allows people who were brought into the United States illegally as children to work and study in the country without fear of being deported.