News Release:
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Now Congress Must Pass the Dream Act
The following is a statement from Enoka Herat, ACLU of WA Police Practices and Immigration Counsel.
“The Trump administration today announced the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. The DACA program has served as a critical lifeline for nearly 800,000 young immigrants, or ‘Dreamers,’ who came to this country as children and know the United States as their only home.
“Five years ago, the federal government made a deal with immigrant youth: As long as you pass a criminal background check you can live, study, and work here. Hundreds of thousands of young people came out of the shadows and accepted the government’s offer in good faith and worked hard to build their lives here.
“Today, in an act of cruelty, the government and President Trump went back on their word, threw the lives and futures of 800,000 Dreamers and their families into disarray, and injected chaos and uncertainty into thousands of workplaces and communities across America. There is no humane way to end DACA before having a permanent legislative fix in place.
“In Washington alone, nearly 18,000 of our neighbors used their DACA status to give back to our country in innumerable ways: they are our doctors, soldiers, and students. They are neighbors, family, and friends.
“Now, the fate of 800,000 young adults, who call this country their home, lies in the hands of Congress. Lawmakers must decide if they are on the side of Dreamers and our country’s foundation or on the side of the ugly forces working to end DACA. We urge Washington’s Senators and Representatives on both sides of the aisle to cosponsor and support the Dream Act which would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers.
“While this is a hard day for the immigrant community and America as a whole, we will continue to fight. Years of courage, sacrifices, and organizing won the DACA program in 2012. Nothing will deter these Americans and our allies in Washington and across the country from continuing to fight on behalf of their futures and holding those responsible accountable.”
The following is a statement from Enoka Herat, ACLU of WA Police Practices and Immigration Counsel.
“The Trump administration today announced the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. The DACA program has served as a critical lifeline for nearly 800,000 young immigrants, or ‘Dreamers,’ who came to this country as children and know the United States as their only home.
“Five years ago, the federal government made a deal with immigrant youth: As long as you pass a criminal background check you can live, study, and work here. Hundreds of thousands of young people came out of the shadows and accepted the government’s offer in good faith and worked hard to build their lives here.
“Today, in an act of cruelty, the government and President Trump went back on their word, threw the lives and futures of 800,000 Dreamers and their families into disarray, and injected chaos and uncertainty into thousands of workplaces and communities across America. There is no humane way to end DACA before having a permanent legislative fix in place.
“In Washington alone, nearly 18,000 of our neighbors used their DACA status to give back to our country in innumerable ways: they are our doctors, soldiers, and students. They are neighbors, family, and friends.
“Now, the fate of 800,000 young adults, who call this country their home, lies in the hands of Congress. Lawmakers must decide if they are on the side of Dreamers and our country’s foundation or on the side of the ugly forces working to end DACA. We urge Washington’s Senators and Representatives on both sides of the aisle to cosponsor and support the Dream Act which would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers.
“While this is a hard day for the immigrant community and America as a whole, we will continue to fight. Years of courage, sacrifices, and organizing won the DACA program in 2012. Nothing will deter these Americans and our allies in Washington and across the country from continuing to fight on behalf of their futures and holding those responsible accountable.”
