Former Attorney General Eric Holder Eric Himpton HolderThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump's rally risk | Biden ramps up legal team | Biden hits Trump over climate policy Biden campaign forming 'special litigation' team ahead of possible voting battle Pompeo, Engel poised for battle in contempt proceedings MORE on Tuesday blasted the Trump administration's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

"Undoing #DACA unnecessary & cruel," tweeted Holder, who served under former President Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Senate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg Cruz: Trump should nominate a Supreme Court justice next week MORE when DACA was implemented in 2012.

"Extremists favor this-not majority. Inconsistent with who we say we are as a nation," Holder said, adding that so-called Dreamers who benefit from the program are "good for USA."

Undoing #DACA unnecessary & cruel.Extremists favor this-not majority. Inconsistent with who we say we are as a nation. Dreamers-good for USA — Eric Holder (@EricHolder) September 5, 2017

The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would end the program that allows young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children to apply for work visas and stay in the country.

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About 800,000 immigrants are shielded from deportation under the program.

President Trump defended the decision to end DACA in a statement Tuesday, arguing that the Obama-era program went beyond the powers of the executive branch.

"There can be no path to principled immigration reform if the executive branch is able to rewrite or nullify federal laws at will," Trump said.

Trump said Congress now has the chance to "advance responsible immigration reform that puts American jobs and American security first."