To:
Vice President Mike Pence, Senate President
Senate President Pro Tem Orrin Hatch
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
House Speaker Paul Ryan
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Republican members of the US Senate
Republican members of Congress
Re: DACA and the need to the pass the DREAM Act
As a strong supporter of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals known as DACA, which was implemented by President Barack Obama in 2012, I was very disappointed to see the Trump administration choose to rescind and ultimately wind-down the DACA program.
As you know, there are approximately 800,000 DACA recipients in the United States. Of those, 220,000 live in California. Turning our backs on these youth when they have done nothing wrong is just another shameful example of Donald Trump making a bigoted appeal to his base instead of doing what is best for the country. DACA came about to make sure that kids who are as American as anybody else were allowed to remain productive members of our economy and our society—to pursue the American Dream. Now the rug is being pulled out from under them where they are once again in legal limbo.
However, there is a strong legislative solution currently in Congress that would allow young immigrants to continue living their dream with a pathway to citizenship. The DREAM Act is that solution. It will allow for a lasting plan that puts a path forward to documentation. According to an April Morning Consult and Politico Poll, 78% of American voters support giving Dreamers the chance to stay permanently in America, including 73% of Trump voters.
I am calling on Congress to take up and pass the DREAM Act that will provide a pathway for these young people who have contributed enormously to our communities and economy.
Please take a stand!