The Democratic Executive Committee of Indian River County Urges Congress to Protect Our Nation’s DREAMers
Congressional leaders have until March 5 to restore deportation protections and work permits for DREAMers after President Trump ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program established by President Barack Obama. Negotiations resume Tuesday, January 9th, 2018 at a White House meeting with Trump and congressional leaders.
Democrats have long advocated legal status for all of the nation’s 11 million undocumented immigrants. Now, Democrats are trying to protect just the DACA enrollees. Trump added to the GOP demands on Friday by requesting $18 billion over 10 years to reinforce or expand the border wall with Mexico to fulfill his signature campaign promise — though without Mexico paying the tab, as he vowed.
The Democrats of Indian River Join in Urging Justice for DREAMers
The Democratic Executive Committee of Indian River County joins a long line of professional and civic organizations to call on Congress to act regarding President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). In November, we passed a resolution voicing our sentiment that the Congress of The United States immediately enact statutory protection of DREAMers. We are outraged that the administration now aims to deport the “dreamers.” The Democratic values that cherish multiculturalism and diversity in our country are in direct opposition to this current administration policy.
These 800,000 young people were brought to this country by their parents as children. They have lived here for most of their lives and know of no other country to call home. The great majority of dreamers are enrolled in school, members of the military, working at skilled jobs, and contributing in purposeful ways to their communities.
Ending the DACA program will result in the loss of thousands of skilled workers as well as an estimated $60 billion loss in federal tax revenue. The U.S. economy is likely to suffer a $280 billion loss to the growth of the economy over the next ten years.
We call on the U.S. Congress to act – specifically to pass the Dream Act in order to provide relief for these young dreamers in their adopted country.
— Dr. Linda New Levine
