Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi On DACA

WASHINGTON, DC-The President has refused to protect dreamers so Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“Through this announcement, the President has made clear that he refuses to protect Dreamers and so now Congress must. The Administration’s cruel policy includes a six-month phase-out of the DACA program, and Congress must pass legislation to extend this program and protect Dreamers.

This issue is personal for me because I too was brought to the United States by my parents as a child. The hope for a better a life which carried my parents here was no different from that of the parents of Dreamers, and generations of immigrants before.

In Illinois, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has allowed thousands of young people to live, work, and serve our country without fear of deportation. They have built businesses, raised families, served in our armed forces, and contributed billions to our economy. For many, the United States is the only home they have ever known.

Through this action, the Administration is turning its back on some of our country’s best and brightest. Stripping 780,000 Dreamers of their DACA status will cost our economy nearly half a trillion dollars over 10 years while robbing our country of thousands of entrepreneurs and contributors at leading companies.

I urge the President and Speaker Ryan to stand with Dreamers and work with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to pass commonsense, compassionate, and comprehensive immigration reform. The Dreamers deserve to stay.”