At his first press conference since the election this afternoon, President Obama was asked by a concerned reporter if he could do anything to "shield" information illegal immigrant children provided the government about their families when they applied for protection under the deferred action program (DACA).



"At least three quarters of a million undocumented immigrants provided the federal government information about themselves and their families as part of your deferred action (DACA) program," Bloomberg's Justin Sink said Monday.



"I was wondering if there was anything you could do to reassure them or shield that information for the incoming Trump administration considering his stance on immigration?" Sink asked the president.



President Obama said for all practical purposes the illegal immigrant children are "American kids."



"On the deferred action program that we have known as DACA where it relates to DREAMers who are currently benefiting from these provision I will urge the the president-elect and the incoming administration to think long and hard before they are endangering the status of what for all practical purposes are American kids," the president said.



Transcript:





JUSTIN SINK, BLOOMBERG: I wanted to ask about two things that might be on your desk over the next couple of months as you prepare for a Trump administration. At least three quarters of a million undocumented immigrants provided the federal government information about themselves and their families as part of your deferred action (DACA) program.



I was wondering if there was anything you could do to reassure them or shield that information for the incoming Trump administration considering his stance on immigration? ...



PRESIDENT OBAMA: On the deferred action program that we have known as DACA where it relates to DREAMers who are currently benefiting from these provision I will urge the the president-elect and the incoming administration to think long and hard before they are endangering the status of what for all practical purposes are American kids.



These are kids brought here by their parents. They did nothing wrong. They've gone to school. They have pledged allegiance to the flag, some have joined the military, they've enrolled in school. By definition if they are part of this program, they are solid, wonderful young people of good character.



It is my strong belief that the majority of the American people would not want to see suddenly those kids have to start hiding again. And that's something that I will encourage the president-elect to look at.