Asking Rep. David Joyce: “If We Are Deported, Who Will Fill Our Shoes?”
Chagrin Falls, OH – Last September, President Trump took the cruel and outrageous step of rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that allowed so many young people to live their lives in peace and contribute to their fullest potentials. Since then, the U.S. Congress has failed to advance legislation that would replace DACA with a fair and permanent solution.
At 1pm on Saturday, April 14, 2018, Ohio Dreamers and other immigrants will come together with allies at Triangle Park in Chagrin Falls for a moving, visual protest that spotlights their lives, contributions, and dreams. They are calling on Rep. David Joyce and other leaders in Congress to act.
Ohio Dreamers will participate in a theatrical act. The silent protest is open to public and press.
WHAT: “We have a Dream” silent protest
WHEN: Saturday, April 14th at 1pm
WHERE: Triangle Park, Chagrin Falls, OH
WHO: Dreamers, other Ohio immigrants, and allies
LIVESTREAM: facebook.com/americasvoice
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
- Film a moving, silent protest that visually represents the lives of Dreamers and other immigrants facing deportation
- Interview Ohio Dreamers about their lives with DACA and why they need Congress to enact a permanent solution
- Interview allies, including religious leaders, about their support for Dreamers and other Ohio immigrants
- Visuals: Shoes representing deported Dreamers and other immigrants will be placed in pairs around the park; signs with information about the Dream Act and DACA will be displayed; Dreamers will engage in a silent, theatrical action until the silence is broken by a religious leader with a call to action
All are welcome at the event. Follow along on Twitter via #OHereToStay.
The silent protest is sponsored by DreamActivist Ohio, Cleveland Jobs With Justice, Indivisible CLE, LOIRA, America’s Voice Ohio, InterReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia, and Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network.
View the Facebook Event page here.
BACKGROUND:
Last September, President Donald Trump announced he was ending DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy. After five years of living “normal” lives, DACA beneficiaries are once again becoming undocumented and facing potential deportation. While litigation has temporarily stalled the end of DACA for some, it’s fate and future are less than certain.
Approximately 4,400 Ohioans have had DACA since the program began. If DACA had remained in place, 9,000 Ohioans would qualify for it. As it stands today, 10,000 Ohioans would qualify for legal status under the bipartisan Dream Act.
The youngest Dreamers–like Rosa Maria Hernandez–never had a chance to apply for DACA, because the program doesn’t start until you turn 16. The oldest Dreamers–likeBeatriz Casillas–were too “old” to apply for DACA, and many like her have already being deported. Even some people with valid DACA status are being detained and deported.
Policy Matters Ohio analyzed the economic contributions of Ohio’s Dreamers, and found that passing the Dream Act would increase the state’s GDP by at least $92 million per year–and likely much more, if beneficiaries continue to pursue higher education. Passing the Dream Act is not only the right thing to do for our friends and neighbors, but also the right thing for our state’s finances.
Congressman David Joyce is not a cosponsor of the Dream Act, and has not expressed support for Dreamers publicly. Senator Rob Portman has stated some support for Dreamers, but is proposing that they accept a second-class type of immigration status. Senator Sherrod Brown supports the Dream Act. Governor Kasich has said that Dreamers are “welcome in Ohio” and Congress should “Fix it. Get it done. Lead.”
