STATEMENT ON WHITE HOUSE DECISION TO PHASE OUT THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS (DACA) PROGRAM

The Campaign for College Opportunity is disheartened by President Trump’s devastating decision to phase out and eventually eliminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which provided temporary immigration relief to over 800,000 people, many of whom were brought to the United States as children and who have loved and called no other country home.

The President’s lack of leadership to protect and preserve DACA now leaves the fate of current recipients in the hands of Congress. However, if Congress does act to provide legal relief to individuals who came this country as children, there is no guarantee the President would sign such a policy. Young, talented and promising DACA recipients continue to be in limbo with the threat of deportation looming greater after today’s news.

Our country was founded on immigrant dreams and immigrants have been critical to the success of our democracy and economy. The end of DACA means families are under threat of being torn apart, our economy could suffer the loss of over $1.5 billion in taxes, bright young minds in our colleges and universities will face unfair uncertainty about their future and California will be further away from meeting the demands for a more educated workforce.

So, to the nearly 220,000 Californians with DACA status and all DREAMers who make this state and our country great, we stand with you, we will keep fighting for you, and we will keep fighting for a more perfect union. .