House Speaker Paul Ryan sought to give comfort to illegal immigrants who are protected from deportation by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), stressing that there will not be a “deportation force” under the incoming Trump administration.
When asked by an undocumented immigrant at a CNN town hall Thursday night if they those protected by DACA should be deported now that President Obama is leaving office, Ryan said no.
He added that Trump transition team and Congress are working to come up with a “humane solution” for those protected by DACA and that there is no “deportation force” forthcoming.
“We have to come up with a solution for the DACA kids and something that we and Congress and the Trump transition team is working on is what’s a good, humane solution,” Ryan said.
“Everybody thinks there’s some deportation force that’s being assembled. That’s not happening.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper noted that Trump himself made the remark about a deportation force under a potential administration, telling “Morning Joe” in November, 2015 how he plans to remove the 11 million illegal immigrants residing in the U.S.
“And it’s not happening,” Ryan said.
“That’s why people think it,” Tapper responded, referring to Trump’s remark.
“I know,” Ryan acknowledged. “And I’m here to tell you, in Congress, it’s not happening.”
