WASHINGTON, D.C. – In 2012, President Obama adopted the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA), which allows certain immigrants who came to the United State illegally to stay in the country and work. Relief from the threat of deportation is, however, soon to end for those thousands of children and teens.  As many as 700,000 students could be impacted. But the National Education Association (NEA) is trying to prevent that.

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Last Saturday the NEA, in conjunction with DC DREAM, which helps illegals obtain college scholarships, held a first-ever DACA clinic in Washington, D.C. for area residents. About a dozen attorneys volunteered to conduct the clinic and help students and their family with the renewal process.

NEA Vice President-elect Becky Pringle told those in attendance, “We see their (DACA students) humanity, and because we know we have been called to this role and responsibility, we are stepping up to do this work.”

Jose Diaz, DC DREAM executive director, says, “We’re hopeful that something will happen soon to the immigration system so we don’t have to do temporary fixes—we need something more permanent.”

On their website, the NEA calls for immigration reform and, specifically, is urging the U.S. House to pass legislation to grant permanent residency for millions of illegal immigrants and eventually provide a pathway to citizenship, something House Speaker John Boehner has steadfastly refused to do…at least for this year.

Hundreds of thousands of additional students are straining public schools and colleges to the limit. There aren’t  budgets big enough and there isn’t room to handle the load. And a continuing influx would only greatly exacerbate the problem

The National Center for Public Policy Research reports that the nation’s public school systems could see a possibly unmanageable influx of new foreign children as early as the 2014-2015 school-year. “This may have a profound impact on public school students – an impact that will disproportionately fall on black and lower-income students, as they are disproportionately likely to attend public schools.”

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There are also reports of children showing up at immigration processing centers infected with lice, scabies, strep, bed bugs and other diseases. The question remains whether or not those children will be vaccinated before being enrolled in public schools.

Many Republicans and conservatives see continuation, and even expansion, of DACA to be nothing more than a continuing incentive for illegals to enter the country. By expanding the program by executive order, Obama has sent a message that those entering the country illegally that they don’t have to worry about deportation

Texas Senator Ted Cruz agrees. According to Breitbart, Cruz is working on two bills: one would repeal DACA, and the other would prevent the president from expanding the program. That would mean no executive amnesty for the thousands of Central American children who’ve recently entered the country illegally, and, perhaps, no executive amnesty for the five million adult illegals that Mr. Obama has promised immigration activists he’ll help.

According to Allahpundit of Hot Air, Cruz is partially deflecting criticism that he “hates children” by stating that his bill will not affect those who have already qualified for amnesty under DACA. Those who have already qualified under DACA would get to keep their amnesty.

But Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier says, “No legislation [to solve the border crisis] should be considered unless it specifically prohibits Obama from expanding” the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), “which allows those who have come here illegally to stay.”

On the other side of the aisle, Senate Democrats are reportedly wary of the president sidestepping Congress to act alone on immigration reform. There is talk of him extending deferred deportation to as many as five million more people living in the United States illegally. That could hurt Democrat candidates in the upcoming elections from conservative-leaning states.