NEW YORK, NY - Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will take the unusual action of by-passing the normal appeals process in an attempt to fast-track the removal of young people who are protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Last week a federal judge temporarily blocked the termination of DACA, but this week the Trump administration is appealing directly to the Supreme Court to lift the injunction.
Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, issued the following statement:
“This latest decision by the Trump administration to circumvent the normal appeals process and petition the Supreme Court directly, is another move in a series of open hostilities designed to denigrate immigrants and destabilize families, communities, and economies. It's wildly out of step with the overwhelming majority of Americans, Republican and Democrat, who believe that DACA recipients deserve a pathway to citizenship, not just a temporary solution, which is why we're down in D.C. fighting for a clean DREAM Act. We're just four days shy of the one year anniversary of this era of resistance, and we will celebrate by fighting back against this latest aggression just as we have for the last 364 days prior.”
Background
The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would serve as a permanent solution for those who currently qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), including the 42,000 DACA recipients in New York whose status is at risk. Four months ago, President Trump rescinded DACA and the administration and congressional Republican leaders are attempting to make increased border protections (including “the Wall”) a condition of any future bill. Over the past four months, more than 13,000 individuals have lost their DACA status at a rate of 122 people per day.
Over fifty percent of DACA recipients under the age of 25 are on track to receive a bachelor’s degree, and in total, over ninety percent of DACA recipients are employed. In the next 10 years, the country stands to lose $460.3 billion in GDP if DACA is ended without a legislative solution. In New York alone, there are 115,000 Dream Act-eligible individuals in the workforce who would add a projected $1.75 billion to the state GDP annually over ten years.
In the aftermath of the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals on September 5th, the New York Immigration Coalition lead a 4,000 person rally at Foley Square and has provided free legal services for DACA recipients.