President Donald Trump has scrapped an Obama-era policy that allows immigrants who came to the US illegally as children to remain and work in the country, ignoring business leaders’ pleas not to kill the programme.
Although Mr Trump called the “Dreamers” programme “amnesty” during the campaign, he had appeared to soften his position once in office, vowing to show “heart” to the 800,000 undocumented immigrants covered.
By deciding to phase it out over six months, which the White House said would enable Congress to legislate a replacement programme, Mr Trump risked yet another battle with American boardrooms, which have become increasingly frustrated with the administration for recent protectionist trade policies and a perceived failure to stand up to white nationalists.