Congressman Veasey Statement on Trump’s Callous Decision to End the Successful DACA Program

Dallas / Fort Worth, TX - Congressman Marc Veasey, TX-33, released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced their decision to terminate the highly successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Over 200,000 young Texans successfully applied for DACA, which gave them the opportunity to obtain a work permit, enroll in higher education, and temporary deportation relief after passing a background check and paying the associated fees:

"President Trump has made it perfectly clear that he is more than willing to sacrifice the immigrant community to appease his nativist base. His latest decision to end the successful DACA program will uproot the lives of nearly 800,000 young immigrants, including the over 200,000 young Texans who have been able to peacefully work, study, and contribute to our economy since the program's start. The DREAMers I have spoken with all share that their DACA status changed their lives for the better and allowed them to better participate in the only country they've ever called home.

America will feel President Trump's decision to turn his backs on talented and hardworking young people for years to come. The end of DACA means young people will start to lose jobs, leave colleges and universities, and once again be forced back into the shadows. Families will scramble to move from addresses contained in DACA applications and businesses across the country will begin to lose valued employees. Texas alone can expect a $6.2 billion loss annually as DACA workers are removed from the work force.

DREAMers are Americans in all senses of the word, except on paper. They are our children's classmates, our neighbors, and have worked alongside us to make our country an even better place. President Trump should be ashamed that he has chosen to trample on the American Dream in favor of slamming the door of opportunity in the face of some of our nation's brightest. I remain committed to standing up alongside my fellow House Democrats as we fight to keep families together."

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