Press Releases
Tonko opposes President Trump’s action to eliminate DACACalls for swift passage of legislation to protect “dreamers”
Washington,
September 5, 2017
Tags:
Immigration
"A just nation does not take lightly the judgment of innocents. Let us not discard our friends and our neighbors for the sake of political theater, not when we can instead draw strength of heart and mind and treasure from their experience, their differences, and the many values we share in common." - Rep. Paul Tonko
WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul D. Tonko issued the enclosed statement following the Trump Administration’s announcement today that it will discontinue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: Earlier today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump Administration will move forward with ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. I strongly oppose this decision. Ending DACA is inhumane and un-American. This hurts our economy, damages our standing as a leading nation, and betrays nearly 800,000 young people who have known no other home than America. I was proud to vote for the DREAM Act when it came before Congress in 2010. I have openly supported Senate efforts to advance comprehensive immigration reform. While I strongly disagree with President Trump’s decision to imperil the fate of hundreds of thousands of dreamers for the sake of scoring political points, I now call on my colleagues in Congress to fix this mess by taking up legislation to protect dreamers and passing it without delay. Whatever your politics on immigration, these "dreamers" did not choose their birthplace or their path. They have grown up going to school with our children and they share our values and our principles. They believe in the American dream. With hard work and commitment, they have become nurses, doctors, engineers, leaders in their fields and advocates for the voiceless. They are joining the ranks of innovators and job creators powering the U.S. economy and creating opportunity for all Americans. A just nation does not take lightly the judgment of innocents. Let us not discard our friends and our neighbors for the sake of political theater, not when we can instead draw strength of heart and mind and treasure from their experience, their differences, and the many values we share in common. E Pluribus Unum.
Center for American Progress compiled state-by-state figures outlining the economic effects of a DACA repeal, including these numbers for New York State: - Number of DACA recipients: 38,430 - Number of DACA workers: 33,434 - Annual GDP loss from removing DACA workers: $2,379,147 Rep. Tonko also posted a USA Today chart on Twitter showing some of the work/school demographics of DACA beneficiaries. ### |