Trump Decision on DACA Sparks Minnesota Rallies

#DACA march in Mpls has begun pic.twitter.com/EXMNBJPjAF

— MNN Newsroom (@news_MNN) September 5, 2017

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota officials and immigrants' rights organizations say they'll fight to defend thousands of young residents brought to the United States illegally as children.

President Donald Trump's administration announced Tuesday it would rescind the Obama-era program protecting those children called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The decision affects more than 800,000 young immigrants, including roughly 3,600 currently living in Minnesota who have received driver's licenses and work permits.

Minnesota's Democratic Sen. Al Franken calls the action "a disgrace to our moral values and principles." Several state lawmakers say they're exploring what the state can do to shield recipients from potential harm if Congress doesn't pass new safeguards.

The decision also spurred rallies across the Twin Cities. Hundreds gathered for a rally in downtown Minneapolis late Tuesday afternoon.

Dozens of people demonstrated against the President's decision in downtown Rochester Tuesday afternoon in a rally near the intersection of 2nd Street and 1st Avenue Southwest.