And which was blocked by Republicans during Obama's term, which only left him the imperfect DACA option.
It was blocked by both Democrats and Republicans. Both presidents Bush and Obama, between 2001 and 2011 have attempted to get their versions of the "dream' like legislation passed and it failed. Even when the Democrats controlled the congress, during the Obama administration, the legislation did not pass.
There is credence in the claim that DACA was an abuse of executive power.
Presidents Bush and Obama attempted to get similar legislation passed through the congress. That's the way our system works -- The president proposes legislation and the Legislative Branch makes the decision about laws. When the Legislative Branch did not pass this law, President Obama went around congress and issued an Executive Order.
This "Yes, I asked congress' permission first but I am going to do it anyway" attitude goes against the concept of separation of powers.
President Obama could not even use the excuse of "better to ask forgiveness than to get permission" as he asked for permission and was told no.
Since DACA was an Executive Order, the current executive, President Trump, can easily change it. Can change it, not necessarily should change it, in my opinion.
It is unfortunate, and in my opinion unfair, that many people will be adversely affected if President Trump changes/rescinds President Obama's Executive Order.
But this is the risk that the Obama administration assumed when President Obama defied congress and issued what he knew could only be a temporary Executive Order. This is why these types of policy need to be enacted by law so that they remain in place between administrations.
One of my criticisms of the DACA was that it did not have an exit path. DACA, if enacted as law, could serve as a pathway to permanent residency for the applicants. Unfortunately, due to DACA being an Executive Order, this option was not possible. So what was left was this state of limbo where the applicant could reapply every 18 months and hope that their application was renewed. Rinse and repeat until???
We have to keep in mind that every applicant for DACA understood that they were going to be deported. All DACA promised was that this deportation would be deferred for two years. This two year deferment could be extended by two years upon a successful renewal, but at no time was the deportation action being removed.
These types of policy need to be codified into law and not decided by Executive Order. If the congress, decides not to enact a DACA type law, then that
is the legislative position of the US.