FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
LOCATION - The Trump administration today announced the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. The DACA program has served as a critical lifeline for nearly 800,000 young immigrants, or "Dreamers," who came to this country as children and know the United States as their only home.
The following is a statement from Nick Steiner, ACLU of Maryland's Equal Justice Works Immigrants' Rights Fellow Sponsored by the Ottinger Foundation, reacting to the White House announcement rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:
"Five years ago, the federal government made a deal with immigrant youth: As long as you pass a criminal background check you can live, study, and work here. Hundreds of thousands of young people came out of the shadows and accepted the government's offer in good faith and worked hard to build their lives here.
"Today, the government and President Trump threw away the lives and futures of 800,000 Dreamers and their families into disarray, and injected chaos and uncertainty into thousands of workplaces and communities across America.
"In Maryland alone, nearly 10,000 members of our community were finally recognized for their immeasurable contributions to this country, and were empowered through the DACA program to help improve our country in innumerable ways as our doctors, our soldiers, and our students. In 2012, Maryland joined the effort to protect Dreamers and voted in firm support of our DACA family and friends, passing the Maryland DREAM Act through a statewide referendum.
"Now, the fate of 800,000 young adults, who call this country their home, lies in the hands of Congress. Lawmakers such as Rep. Andy Harris (R-Eastern Shore) must decide if they are on the side of Dreamers and our country's foundation or on the side of white supremacy and xenophobia that helped to end DACA.
"While this is a hard day for the immigrant community and America as a whole, we will continue to fight. Years of courage, sacrifices, and organizing won the DACA program in 2012. Nothing will deter these Americans and our allies in Maryland and across the country from continuing to fight on behalf of their futures and holding those responsible accountable."
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