2 DEC 2022
ICYMI: Bipartisan Group of Mayors Call On Congress to Protect DACA Recipients
The Hill: “The mayor’s argument for legislative action on Dreamers...is moral, economic and political.”
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, over 70 mayors from across the country, hailing from blue and red states, released a public letter urging the U.S. Senate to strike a bipartisan deal to pass protections for Dreamers before the end of this year. Centering the economic impact to cities across the US, the letter underscored how ending DACA would have devastating consequences for millions of people including DACA recipients, DACA-eligible individuals, their families, friends and communities. The mayoral letter was followed by a joint letter from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus also urging Congress to take immediate action in order to deliver permanent protections for Dreamers once and for all. With the courts seeking to end DACA as soon as next year, Congress has an opportunity to provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrant youth this year.
In case you missed it…
The Hill | Mayors call on Congress to protect DACA recipients
“In a letter Tuesday under the Cities for Action banner, the mayors warned that court action could soon invalidate the remainders of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, leaving hundreds of thousands of Dreamers in the lurch.
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“‘Over the last decade, more than 830,000 of our family members, neighbors, and friends have been protected under DACA. During the COVID pandemic, 343,000 or more than three-quarters of DACA recipients in the workforce were employed in jobs deemed essential by the Department of Homeland Security,’ wrote the mayors.
“It is estimated that over 2.5 million U.S. citizens live with DACA-eligible people. Ending DACA would have a devastating impact on millions of people including DACA recipients, DACA-eligible individuals, their families, friends and communities across the country.”
“Nine Pennsylvania mayors have joined with their colleagues nationwide to sign a bipartisan lettercalling on Congress to pass permanent immigration protections for Dreamers before a Republican takeover of the U.S. House next year.
“The letter sent Tuesday to congressional leaders by Cities for Action warns that looming court action could soon strip the remaining protections of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivalsprogram, which could expose thousands of people to potential deportation.
“‘A potential Supreme Court decision could strip DACA recipients of their work permits, threaten the livelihood of over 1.3 million DACA-eligible individuals, their families and their communities, and place them on a path to deportation,’ the mayors wrote.”
La Noticia Charlotte | ¿Peligra DACA por control republicano? Alcaldes piden proteger programa
“Un grupo de 71 alcaldes pidió a los líderes del Congreso acelerar las protecciones de inmigración para los ‘Dreamers’. Los mandatarios locales firmaron una carta bajo el lema Cities for Action, donde resaltan su temor a que luego de la toma de posesión de los republicanos impulsen alguna acción judicial contra lo que queda del programa.
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“El cierre de la carta incluyó la frase: "El momento de actuar es ahora". Con ello, los alcaldes resaltaron que las medidas permanentes deben darse sin más demora para los soñadores. Asimismo, los alcaldes se comprometieron a continuar apoyando a todos los inmigrantes que viven en nuestras ciudades y condados.”
“Cities for Action, a coalition of almost 180 U.S. mayors and county executives who advocate for pro-immigrant federal policies and who launch programs and policies at the local level, sent a bipartisan letter Tuesday urging members of Congress to enact permanent protections for Dreamers during the lame duck session. Plainfield's Mayor Adrian O. Mapp was one of over 70 mayors and county executives to co-sign the letter.
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“Cities for Action states the American public largely supports congressional action to provide permanent protections for Dreamers, including 65% of voters, business, faith and higher educationleaders.”
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