Representative Chu on DACA: “Victory for Dreamers!”

Rep. Judy Chu (Photo – house.gov)

Today, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump’s order to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was arbitrary and capricious and violated the law.

By News Desk

The decision means that almost 700,000 DACA recipients will continue to have the ability to apply for work authorizations and live without fear of deportation. In addition, new applicants who are eligible for DACA can now apply.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement:

This is a truly great day. It’s a great day for our country and our economy, and most of all for the almost 700,000 DACA recipients and their families. DACA is a recognition of a simple fact – Dreamers are Americans in every way except on paper. Over the past few years, I have been privileged to get to meet so many Dreamers who have worked hard to put themselves through school, often working towards careers in fields like social work or advocacy that allow them to give back to others. America is their home and Dreamers are helping to make it better.

But when he rushed to rescind DACA as part of a xenophobic political agenda, Donald Trump injected fear into thousands of families around the country. American children of Dreamer parents were left to worry if their parents would come home at the end of the day, or if this was the day that Donald Trump’s deportation force would come for them. And, just like with his child prison camps, the cruelty was intentional. Donald Trump and Stephen Miller thought that if they were vicious enough to the immigrants already here, it would deter others. But fortunately, the Supreme Court has rejected this hateful approach to governing. Their decision today, while leaving the door open to a future attempt by the President, makes clear that he cannot simply disregard the needs and lives of immigrants.

But that does not mean our work is done. Dreamers are still vulnerable to a future attack on DACA and that is why it is more important than ever that the Senate follow this decision by finally voting on H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act. This bill, which overwhelmingly passed the House and is supported throughout the country, would put an end to the uncertainty and worrying among Dreamers and individuals with temporary protected status (TPS). It would affirm what we all know, that they are as American as you or I and that tearing them from their homes simply because they were born somewhere else is un-American and cruel.

Today’s decision was an order to prioritize the lives of humans over prejudice and xenophobia. I’m proud of our Court and our country today and I hope that we can follow this up with the lasting legal protections Dreamers deserve.

Source: Benjamin Suarato, Field Rep., CA 27^th District.