In a charged segment on Jimmy Kimmel's late night show, DACA opponents met with an amnesty recipient who could get deported, and Kimmel admitted that he thought the United States was a cruel country.
Kimmel spoke to various opponents of former President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which gave amnesty and a quasi-legal status to about 700,000 illegal immigrants. He had them speak with a DACA recipient who faced deportation if Congress were unable to extend the amnesty past a March 5 deadline set by President Donald Trump.
One DACA opponent, who was an immigrant herself, address Kimmel directly, saying, "Jimmy, we can agree to disagree, but I know that you will concur with me that we live in a most loving compassionate, and exceptional country?"
"No, I don't, I don't agree with that," Kimmel replied. "I think this country has become cruel, and uhm, I mean look at this woman and her husband who's in the military, where is your compassion?"
Kimmel was referring to Esmeralda, who was brought into the country illegally at age 2 from Mexico City, and received DACA amnesty. Esmeralda's fiance, Michael, who is a legal citizen, also joined the conversation.
"What people don't realize is that the process, it's hard," Michael said. "It's grueling. We're going through it. We as a family have paid so much money to make sure everything's documented and right."
"OK, and a lot of people like to focus on, is what bad has happened. But the people who are doing everything right, and who are trying to through the process, the best way they can, and financially, you know, skipping bills, you know, even, just to get the documents right. Going without water, electricity, you know?"
Most of the DACA opponents were unmoved from their position, though some seemed sympathetic to Esmeralda and Michael's plight.
Republicans and Democrats are debating and negotiating what should be done with the DACA "Dreamers," whose amnesty will be cut off in March.
Carlos Garcia
Staff Writer
