In response to speculation the Trump administration will soon phase out the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) issued the following statement:
“In my district and across the country, DREAMers – undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children – make important societal contributions. They are a vital part of our nation’s fabric, and they must be defended. Yet, their fate is now uncertain as President Donald Trump prepares to end DACA, the program that allowed 800,000 DREAMers to come out of the shadows and establish roots in the country they call home. As we await a decision from the White House, it is imperative to emphasize the local and national consequences of shuttering such a critical program.
“Most DREAMers have known no other home than the United States. The vast majority of DACA-eligible students over the age of 18 received a high school education here. Our nation has made an investment in their future that not only transformed their lives, but also had widespread economic benefits for all of us. Turning our backs on that investment and ending DACA isn’t just morally reprehensible, but it could also cost the country up to 700,000 jobs and $460.3 billion in economic output over the next decade. If Wisconsin’s 6,582 DACA workers are deported, it would cost the state more than $400 million annually.
“As the Trump administration continues to push a truly un-American agenda of discrimination and mass deportation, Congress must unite to protect DACA, its recipients, and their families. Today and always, I stand with my Democratic colleagues fighting to protect DACA and pass compressive immigration reform.”
