ACLU of Colorado Statement on Termination of DACA

Affiliate: ACLU of Colorado
September 5, 2017 2:15 pm

ACLU Affiliate
ACLU of Colorado
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New York, NY 10004
United States

DENVER — 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,” including more than 17,000 here in Colorado, who came to this country as children and know the United States as their only home.

The following is a statement from ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley reacting to the White House announcement rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

“There is no humane way to end DACA before having a legislative fix in place. Today’s decision to end the program is in response to a fake deadline and as part of a manufactured crisis.

“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, 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.

“In Colorado alone, more than 17,000 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 our neighbors, family, and friends.

“Now, the fate of 800,000 young adults, who call this country their home, lies in the hands of Congress. Colorado lawmakers, including Senator Cory Gardner and Representative Mike Coffman, must decide if they are on the side of Dreamers and our country’s foundation or on the side of the ugly forces that helped to end DACA. These 800,000 lives are not pawns and Congress must step up and deliver a clean and bipartisan solution, such as the Dream Act.

“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 Colorado and across the country from continuing to fight on behalf of their futures and holding those responsible accountable.”

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