In response to the Trump administration’s announcement that it will rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides legal status to individuals who arrived in the United States under the age of 16 as undocumented immigrants, Physicians for Reproductive Health’s President and CEO Jodi Magee issued the following statement:
“Ending DACA is a decision both needless and cruel. It will rip some 800,000 young people away from their homes, and for many of them, the only country they have ever known. It betrays the promise the United States made to young people who put their trust in this country when they came forward to enroll in the program. It will devastate families and communities, and it will benefit no one.
Defending DACA is an issue of basic human rights
There are countless stories of DACA youth whose achievements and contributions to their communities provide living examples of immigrants truly making this nation great. Studies showing that 95% of DACA participants are either employed or enrolled in school demonstrate how DACA has allowed young people to pursue their dreams and play a vital role in the fabric our economy and society. But even more importantly, defending DACA is an issue of basic human rights and compassion for our neighbors, who deserve to live and work in the place they call home without the shadow of constant fear of deportation.
We urge the administration to reconsider this heartless announcement, and furthermore, that Congress take swift legislative action to ensure the long-term protection of the rights of these young Americans.”