In the run-up to, and after, Donald Trump’s announcement that he was rescinding DACA yesterday, it was pretty clear that just about everyone in America supports Dreamers. Seventy-six percent of Americans, including 69% of Republicans, want legal status or citizenship for young immigrants. That’s a national consensus at a time when consensus seems elusive.
Yesterday, advocates across the country — from Nevada to Iowa to South Dakota to Detroit and more — marched in support of Dreamers. Thousands of elected officials and leaders have signed a letter in support. Editorial boards across the country have slammed Trump for ending DACA. Even some Republicans tried to prevent Trump from rescinding the program, and have spoken in favor of the Dream Act.
A number of organizations, groups, and companies far from the immigration reform space have declared their support for Dreamers. Below are statements from a few of them following yesterday’s rescission of DACA:
Neil Bradley, senior vice president and chief policy officer at the US Chamber of Commerce:
The U.S. Chamber urges the president not to rescind DACA. The original DACA program announced in 2012 was premised on sound public policy, and unlike DAPA, it was not challenged in court. Individuals enrolled in good faith and became ingrained in our communities and the nation’s economy. To reverse course now and deport these individuals is contrary to fundamental American principles and the best interests of our country. With approximately 700,000 DACA recipients working for all sorts of businesses across the country, terminating their employment eligibility runs contrary to the president’s goal of growing the U.S. economy. Should the president move forward, we would ask that the administration and the Congress work together to quickly find a legislative solution before the program expires.
Will Fischer, Director of Government Relations at VoteVets and an Iraq War veteran:
The fact that Jeff Sessions, speaking for Donald Trump, did not offer any protections or exemptions for Dreamers who are in the military is proof of just how wantonly cruel this decision is.
At the absolute bare minimum, those in the military shouldn’t have to have deportation hanging over their heads, and they shouldn’t have to think about having to go AWOL to protect themselves. That the administration doesn’t even care enough to spare them is all the proof you need that this is a policy decision based on hatred of immigrants who love America, serve America, and only want to make their country – America – better.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook:
It’s time for Congress to act to pass the bipartisan Dream Act or another legislative solution that gives Dreamers a pathway to citizenship. For years, leaders from both parties have been talking about protecting Dreamers. Now it’s time to back those words up with action. Show us that you can lead. No bill is perfect, but inaction now is unacceptable.
Brad Smith, President of Microsoft:
The administration has given Congress six months to replace DACA with new legislation. We believe this means that Congress now needs to re-prioritize the fall legislative calendar and move quickly with new legislation to protect these 800,000 Dreamers. This means that Congress should adopt legislation on DACA before it tries to adopt a tax reform bill. This is the only way, given the number of legislative days Congress has scheduled over the next six months, we realistically can expect Congress to complete DACA legislation in time.
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune:
Trump’s mean-spirited decision to terminate DACA endangers the safety of hundreds of thousands of our friends, family members, and neighbors. These are young people who came to the United States with a dream to make a better life, and they are making our country better as a result.
The immigrant rights and environmental movements’ concerns are intertwined. Those communities most threatened by Trump’s presidency — immigrants, communities of color, and women — are also most vulnerable to toxic pollution and climate change. The Sierra Club is in solidarity with all those who have helped strengthen our country through DACA and we strongly oppose the bigotry being stoked by the White House against immigrants.
Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
No one’s health should be compromised because of their immigration status. President Trump’s decision to rescind DACA will rip millions of families apart and do irreparable harm to communities that already face discrimination and barriers to accessing health care in this country. We will not silently stand by as DREAMers and DACA recipients, many of whom are part of the Planned Parenthood community and rely on Planned Parenthood for health care, are stripped of their rights and protections. We at Planned Parenthood will continue to see patients regardless of who they are or where they’re from – no matter what.
Oxfam President Abby Maxman:
This cruel decision is an attack on the fundamental values of this country. DACA gave immigrant youth, largely Mexicans and Central Americans brought here as children, the opportunity to work hard, study, sustain their families, and contribute to their communities. By ending DACA, this Administration is putting the lives of Dreamers at risk by threatening their return to countries unfamiliar to them and that are plagued by violence with limited economic opportunities…
Oxfam America stands with the Dreamers and their families. We will continue to fight for social justice, and stand against hate at home and abroad. We thank Senators Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. and Richard Durbin, D-ILL for their leadership and we ask Congress to stand up to the White House by immediately passing legislation that provides permanent legal status for Dreamers to remain at home in the United States.
Alejandro Avilés, Director of Outreach and Engagement at the Human Rights Campaign:
This is yet another hateful decision by the Trump-Pence Administration. A White House that has pardoned human rights violators like Joe Arpaio and espoused racism and white nationalism has now decided that hundreds of thousands of young people – many of whom have never known a home outside the U.S. — are no longer welcome here. Students, with bright futures ahead of them, ready to help make our country truly great, will be sent back to places they don’t remember, breaking families apart and setting our country back immeasurably.
Don’t forget:
Celebrities including Khloe and Kim Kardashian, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Shailene Woodley, Kristen Bell, Chelsea Handler, Demi Lovato, Jared Leto, and perhaps most memorably, Cher, have tweeted or expressed support of Dreamers:
Those Who Can Must Take a DREAMER In2 Their Home & Protect ThemI’m Ready 2 Do This & Others in MY BUSINESS WILL DO THE SAMESANCTUARY
— Cher (@cher) September 5, 2017
Spotify released a DACA playlist of immigrant artists and artists who support DACA:
On No Moment for Silence, artists speak to those heartbroken by the DACA announcement. Listen now: https://t.co/Aix3ZEeUON @fwd_us pic.twitter.com/ktw9ST69uA
— Spotify (@Spotify) September 5, 2017
Late night was unanimous in its opposition to Trump’s anti-DACA decision. As Stephen Colbert said of Jeff Sessions, “Deporting innocent children does not mean they are bad people. It means you are a bad person.”