Issued June 16, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.— In response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to officially revoke the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, SEIU International Executive Vice President and iAmerica Action President Rocio Sáenz issued the following statement:
“It comes to no surprise that President Trump and his administration officially rescinded DAPA, an executive immigration action that would have allowed parents of U.S. citizen children who have been living, forming families, working hard, and otherwise contributing, apply for legal work permits and protection from deportation.
“Rather than building on the success of the DACA program, President Trump continues to turn his back on immigrants and their American families.
“DACA has been a complete success. It has protected almost 800,000 young people who grew up in the U.S. from deportation, and according to numerous studies, recipients of the DACA program have stayed in school longer, excelled in the workplace, contributed more in taxes, and overall done right by our nation.
“As the White House has reminded us once again, DACA hangs by a thread. Trump can halt the program any time, on his whim, notwithstanding all of the good it has done. Even now, while DACA remains in place, some DACA beneficiaries and young people eligible for DACA who would have been safe under Obama have been put into deportation proceedings.”
“SEIU members, our families, and our communities will continue to resist these attacks on immigrants. We will build on the momentum of the resistance to create an opposition that unites our justice fights to drive a turnaround in 2018 and change the direction of our country in 2020.