Latino Memphis statement on Trump terminating DACA
DACA’s elimination has injected fear and uncertainty into the lives of 800,000 young people
During a misleading and factless press conference, Attorney General Jeff Sessions informed America that the Trump Administration is ending DACA. This decision does not make our country stronger, better or safer, but rather all the opposite. For the record, DACA was not amnesty, did not open borders, has not been found unconstitutional, and it didn’t take jobs away as Jeff Sessions stated.
DACA provided approximately 8,300 Tennesseans protection from deportation and the ability to work and attend school. It gave them the opportunity to flourish. These Dreamers, which want nothing more than to work towards their American dream and to contribute to the country they call home, will no longer be eligible to work. Yet, Memphis currently has 16,000 job openings that it cannot fill. Why have we made it a crime to want to work?
This decision is not only about DACA recipients, this is about people going to college, working and contributing to an economy and society that we all share. It is both embarrassing and disappointing that Mr. Sessions did not have a single positive thing to say about the contributions of immigrants, nor did he have the courage to answer questions from reporters after his remarks.
We must demand Congress to act and pass the Dream Act of 2017, a bill that already has bipartisan support and is a good first step towards fixing a broken and outdated immigration system.
Aside from pushing for legislation, Latino Memphis will host sessions to inform and help eligible youth renew their permit before the October 5th deadline. The first session will be Saturday, September 9th at 11:30 a.m. at Latino Memphis.
Latino Memphis is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Since its beginning in 1995, Latino Memphis has become the go-to organization for issues impacting the Hispanic community in the Mid-South and the largest Latino-serving nonprofit in West Tennessee, connecting thousands of clients each year to needed services in the areas of health, education, and justice. The work of Latino Memphis is a collective approach that aims to create a vibrant Latino middle class in Memphis; a concept that will not only impact Latinos but the entire community. Latino Memphis is committed to raising the voice of Latinos in our region and working toward building a vibrant middle class.
