National LGBTQ Task Force Responds To Trump Administration Rescinding DACA

No human being is illegal.

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This Tuesday, September 5 the Trump administration formally rescinded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA. This program has protected nearly 800,000 young undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children from deportation. As of today, The Department of Homeland Security will not process any new applications for DACA and the program has began to shut down.

In his statement to the press, Attorney General Jeff Sessions continued his legacy of upholding white supremacy when he said: “The DACA program was implemented in 2012 and essentially provided a legal status for recipients for a renewable two-year term, work authorization and other benefits, including participation in the social security program, to 800,000 mostly-adult illegal aliens.”

No human being is illegal. And in fact the DACA program did not provide lawful immigration status. Instead, the Obama administration exercised prosecutorial discretion, with which it granted a deferral from possibly being deported from the US to those who qualified; it also granted work permits.

Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force immediately released the following statement,

“The Task Force strongly condemns President Trump’s action to end the dreams of 800,000 young immigrants through his decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This decision is not only unconscionable, it flies in the face of wide bi-partisan support as well as the backing of business leaders, educators, and millions of Americans who fully support DACA and all that it represents for American immigrants.

As a reality TV star, Trump purported to make people’s dreams come true. As President, he seems intent only on crushing the dreams of hundreds of thousands of young people and hurting families who want to remain in the U.S., obtain work permits and contribute to the diversity that does, in fact, make this country great.”

Carey continued their statement by calling our members of Congress to action, asking them to address this heinous action by passing a clean DREAM Act. This would allow children brought into America to stay and receive full citizenship rights.

“The president’s announcement does not revoke permits immediately, and it is important that those affected have clarity on how this interim period will be carried out. At the heart of this issue are young people who came to this country through no fault of their own, and for many of them it’s the only country they know,” House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said in his statement.

While some Republicans have stated that they hope to pass a new act for Dreamers, it is thought that they may want to tie that legislation to other measures, such as funding for Trump’s border wall and increasing other deportation methods. While Democrats have supported actions to loop in measures to protect undocumented citizens from deportation.

“The Task Force has long prioritized immigrant rights in our work, as a strong LGBTQ voice on the broad range of issues affecting immigrants, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to Dreamers,” Carey continued. “Shame on you, President Trump, for your immoral action and continued attacks on immigrants.”


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