Immigrant Youth and Advocates Respond to Trump’s Consideration of Plan to Kill DACA, Outline Escalation of Fight to Defend Program

WASHINGTON — Following a news report that the Trump administration is “seriously considering” ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, immigrant youth, immigrant and civil rights advocates, and progressive leaders today renewed their call to President Trump to keep the DACA in place and provided the latest updates on ongoing work to defend the program. A recording of today’s call is available here.

Below are quotes from participants in today’s press conference:

Greisa Martinez Rosas, policy and advocacy director, United We Dream
“It is time for all people to organize with fierce and unapologetic determination to counter the vicious hate being pushed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and white supremacists in the White House. Every Republican elected and administration official who has tried to have it both ways is now on notice. You either oppose the drive to kill DACA or you are complicit in our suffering.”

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center
“There is no good moral, legal, or political reason to get rid of this wildly successful program. More than 100 legal scholars, countless faith leaders and economists, along with business and education leaders, have spoken in defense of the program. In addition, polls show that 7 out of 8 voters support this program. DACA is one of those rare instances where doing the right thing is also the politically popular thing.”

Damaris Gonzalez, Texas DACA recipient
“I hope that everyone with DACA, every Texan of conscience, and all people who care about immigrants, people of color in our state, and the future of this country rise up and say enough is enough. We will continue to expose Ken Paxton for his attacks on our humanity and Trump for pandering to his white supremacist supporters. This is our home, and we’re not going anywhere — we are here to stay!”

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO, Leadership Conference of Civil and Human Rights
“It would be a grave moral and legal error for the Trump administration to end the DACA program. We must not allow the hate and violence we saw in the streets of Charlottesville to become the guiding force for policymaking in this country. Targeting innocent immigrant young people would only deepen the moral crisis President Trump has plunged his administration into.”

Jung Woo Kim, lead organizer of NAKASEC’s 22-day round-the-clock action in front of the White House to defend DACA
“I am very scared right now. If DACA goes away, I won’t be able to work, pay my bills or anything. Where would I be then? How would I survive? We need everyone to come join us at the White House today as we fight together to save DACA and our future!”

Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible
“This administration has been systematically targeting immigrants, refugees, people of color. There is a clear connection between Trump’s attacks on DACA and his comments on Charlottesville, hints at pardoning Sheriff Arpaio, and the Muslim ban. This is all one and the same fight, and it’s part of Trump’s white supremacist agenda. We and the 6,000 Indivisible groups across the country will be standing with our partners who’ve been leading this fight to say that DACAmented youth belong here, and they are here to stay.”

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