Statement on DACA Decision
Statement on DACA
decision
The Civil Rights Project deeply regrets the President’s decision to terminate
the DACA program that has given 800,000 young people -- who have done nothing
wrong -- a right to participate lawfully in our society since 2012. This
decision to terminate DACA is deeply destructive and it is a betrayal. It will
cause severe disruption to 1000s of lives, and, in many cases, require these
young people to leave the only country they’ve known, while denying them the
opportunity to follow the careers they have prepared for here in the U.S. Importantly,
it will also rob this nation of the contributions of DACA recipients at a time
when the U.S. is not replacing young workers at the level needed.
This is a decision that divides and weakens our country, and ignores the fact that most Americans have strongly favored giving a path to citizenship for these “dreamers.” That 9 attorneys general committed the resources of their states to policies that will do irreversible harm to many of these students is a disgrace and does not justify this administration’s decision. The administration could have chosen to defend these young people, for whom the president earlier expressed support, and could have fought for them in the courts. A House of Representatives that has blocked all significant immigration reform for decades, and failed to allow dreamers legislation to come to a vote, will not likely solve this in the next six months.
In spite of this, of course, legislation must be strongly pursued now. We call on President Trump to support the proposed Senate legislation, to commit the administration to support it, and to pass a bill in the Senate during September, with the Congress to follow soon after.
This is a day of shame for our country. It is important for people of good will to mobilize. We call on schools and colleges across the country to join with the many businesses employing dreamers to support these young people and protect them in any way they can as this process proceeds.
We stand ready to assist these efforts in all possible ways.
Patricia Gándara and Gary Orfield
Co-Directors
