Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Essex, Morris, Passaic) released this statement following President Donald Trump’s decision on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

“I believe that President Trump made the tough, but necessary decision to end the DACA program and send the issue of immigration reform back to Congress. Sadly, Democrats speaking out against this high-profile decision are just using it as a chance to grandstand and further obstruct the administration’s policies.

“Many Americans, including myself, would like to see a resolution where the participants in this program — including an estimated 22,000 Dreamers in New Jersey — are allowed to have some kind of legal status in this country, but that process must be codified by Congress, not handed down by executive order.

“When President Obama and the Democrats had majority control of Congress, they had a chance to pass any kind of legislation they wanted, but they didn’t. President Trump is giving Congress a second chance to roll up their sleeves and work in a bipartisan fashion to address this important issue.

“The legislative branch needs to work with the President to enact meaningful immigration and border security reform. It’s time to stop playing politics.”