First CEO resigns over Trump's racist deportation scheme

Trump’s comments blaming “many sides” for neo-Nazi violence in the Charlottesville riot resulted in droves of resignations, in protest of Trump’s defense and support for white supremacy, and forced Trump to disband some of his business advisory panels outright.

Now, another of Trump’s racist decisions — this time, to end the DACA program, which protects young undocumented immigrants — has prompted another CEO to resign.

Javier Palomarez, the head of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, announced his resignation from Trump’s White House National Diversity Council on live TV, during an interview on HLN:

#BREAKING: Javier Palomarez resigns from Trump's WH National Diversity Council due to DACA decision. Live on @HLNTV: https://t.co/6FQCxjMJDM

— Carol Costello (@CarolC) September 5, 2017

Palomarez, who previously told CNN’s Jim Acosta he would resign if DACA was rescinded, attacked Trump for breaking his promise that the “Dreamers” could “rest easy”:

This disgraceful action goes against not only the values of this country, but also against the promise of this administration to focus homeland security resources toward individuals who have committed violent crimes and pose a threat to communities across the country.

Let’s lay the truth bare: President Trump has knowingly deceived the American people over the past seven months about his intentions to protect the innocent young men and women of the DACA program.

And the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, known for its conservative leanings, put out an unexpectedly critical statement:

https://twitter.com/gdebenedetti/status/905088597862338560

DACA, established by President Barack Obama in 2012, grants work permits to young people who were brought into the country illegally as children. None of them have criminal records, and 91 percent have jobs.

Under Trump’s new order, outlined by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a gleeful announcement, DACA will expire after six months. The Trump administration contends it was necessary to comply with federal courts, which is patently false — courts have only halted expansions of DACA, not the original program.

If Congress does not pass a legislative solution by next March, up to 800,000 high-skilled young immigrants could be deported and their families torn apart.

As the resignations stack up, Trump is increasingly on his own. Corporate America is washing its hands of his lies and racism, and it is time that he owned up to the damage he has done.