Immigration attorney says Trump's 'dreamers' statement partly accurate

In his weekly address President Donald Trump touted his accomplishments since taking office in January.

Among them, immigration reform.

"I also took action to reform our immigration system, so that it puts the needs of American workers first,” Trump said in the address.

Those comments were a day after he told reporters that undocumented immigrants brought to America as children, shielded from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, should rest easy from his policies.

Trump said that he’s not after “dreamers,” but rather criminals.

Charlotte immigration attorney Benjamin Snyder said, from what he's seen, that the president's comments are only partially accurate.

"The way the DACA policy is written, you have to be convicted of either a felony crime or two significant misdemeanors in order to lose eligibility for DACA,” Snyder said. “However, under the Trump administration, if you are even charged with a minor crime, you are likely to have your DACA status removed, and you are likely to be deported."

Snyder said the Trump administration is not waiting for the criminal justice system to prove guilt or innocence before starting the deportation process.

"But generally speaking, people who do not have a criminal record, who otherwise have DACA status, have no need to fear,” Snyder said.

Cox Media Group