AQUINO STATEMENT ON TRUMP RESCINDING DACA
09/06/2017
SPRINGFIELD – The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it would begin to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The program, which was instituted by the Obama administration in 2012, allows undocumented people brought to the United States as children to obtain work permits, attend school and join the military without fear of deportation.
State Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, released the following statement:
“The Trump administration once again signaled its hostility toward immigrants, announcing that federal officials will begin to dismantle DACA.
“Recipients of this program hold jobs, pay taxes and support their communities. Recent surveys suggest that over 95 percent of DACA recipients are working or in school. By dismantling this program, the Trump administration could push nearly 1 million productive, law-abiding Americans to the margins of society.
“The administration’s decision is governmentally, economically and morally misguided. In response to years of gridlock in immigration reform efforts, President Obama instituted DACA in 2012 to help undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children get the legal status needed to attend school and get good jobs.
“President Trump’s decision to seek a way forward in the legislative branch of the federal government is concerning, as the Republican-dominated Congress has failed to advance several other aspects of Trump’s agenda. If federal lawmakers are looking to pass real, sustained immigration reform, I suggest that they revisit the DREAM Act, which they have struggled to pass for nearly two decades.
“If our president truly wants to make America great again, he should not be putting hardworking people with so much to contribute to our communities in such a difficult position. We need a grassroots movement against policies like this one.
“I look forward to working with advocates and leaders in my community to pass true immigration reform at the federal level and ensure that Illinois remains a land of opportunity welcoming people from around the globe.”
The program, which was instituted by the Obama administration in 2012, allows undocumented people brought to the United States as children to obtain work permits, attend school and join the military without fear of deportation.
State Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, released the following statement:
“The Trump administration once again signaled its hostility toward immigrants, announcing that federal officials will begin to dismantle DACA.
“Recipients of this program hold jobs, pay taxes and support their communities. Recent surveys suggest that over 95 percent of DACA recipients are working or in school. By dismantling this program, the Trump administration could push nearly 1 million productive, law-abiding Americans to the margins of society.
“The administration’s decision is governmentally, economically and morally misguided. In response to years of gridlock in immigration reform efforts, President Obama instituted DACA in 2012 to help undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children get the legal status needed to attend school and get good jobs.
“President Trump’s decision to seek a way forward in the legislative branch of the federal government is concerning, as the Republican-dominated Congress has failed to advance several other aspects of Trump’s agenda. If federal lawmakers are looking to pass real, sustained immigration reform, I suggest that they revisit the DREAM Act, which they have struggled to pass for nearly two decades.
“If our president truly wants to make America great again, he should not be putting hardworking people with so much to contribute to our communities in such a difficult position. We need a grassroots movement against policies like this one.
“I look forward to working with advocates and leaders in my community to pass true immigration reform at the federal level and ensure that Illinois remains a land of opportunity welcoming people from around the globe.”
