Obama: I'll Urge Trump to Let DREAMers Stay

President gives first press conference since Trump election
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 14, 2016 4:49 PM CST
Obama: I'll Urge Trump to Let DREAMers Stay
President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the Brady press briefing room at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.    (Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama says he will encourage his successor to allow immigrants who came to the country as children to remain in the US, the AP reports. Those immigrants, known as DREAMers, were granted legal status under a 2012 executive order. Obama says that the majority of Americans would not want the young people to "start hiding again." He was speaking at a White House news conference Monday ahead of his final overseas trip as president. Obama also acknowledged that many Americans have grown skeptical about the "complex argument" in support of immigration, when they see factories closing at home and jobs going offshore. But he said "immigration is good for our economy" if it is "orderly and lawful."

Obama also said Donald Trump understands that a candidate being reckless with his words can be less consequential than a president saying the same thing. He noted that markets move and foreign governments take note of a president's rhetoric. He said national security "requires a level of precision" so deadly mistakes aren't made. Obama added of his blunt-spoken successor that, "I think what will happen with the president-elect is that there are going to be certain elements of his temperament that will not serve him well unless he recognizes them and corrects them." He said Trump "recognizes that this is different—and so do the American people." Click for more from Obama's press conference, his first since Trump was elected. (More immigration stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X