FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DFER National President Shavar Jeffries Statement on President Trump’s Consideration of Ending DACA Program
Washington, DC – Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) National President Shavar Jeffries released the following statement in response to President Trump’s strong consideration of ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), which will place more than 800,000 DREAMers – many of whom are students – at imminent risk of deportation and in fear of being torn apart from their families:
“President Trump’s mother was born in Scotland; she emigrated to the United States in search of a better life. The president’s grandfather was born in Germany; he emigrated to the United States in search of a better life. The First Lady of the United States also emigrated to the states in search of a better life. The story of the Trump family tracks the story of tens of millions of Americans, from all parts of the world, who left their homelands in search of opportunity in our country.
By potentially discontinuing DACA, the Trump administration would raise the prospect of imminent deportation for nearly a million young people throughout our country, tearing families apart in ways that disrespect the morality of what America purports to stand for, and kicking out of the country talented young people who have in spades the drive, ingenuity, and hustle the country needs to thrive in the 21st century. America is known around the world as a land of opportunity; even the thought of rescinding DACA dishonors our nation’s legacy as a beacon of hope to the world. We strongly urge President Trump to recall our country’s history, and his own: America is a nation founded and built by immigrants, and we must continue to defend DREAMers’ right to live, learn, and work in the United States – the only country that many of them have ever called home.”
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Contact: Ashley Johnson — ashleyj@dfer.org, 908-209-8992