Rep. Dwight Evans Decries DACA Repeal Plan

On the heels of the Trump administration's announcement to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, better know as DACA, Congressman Dwight Evans issued a statement decrying the decision.

"America's DREAMers are students, military service members, teachers, scientists, doctors, and lawyers; more than that they are our friends and our neighbors," said the Democrat who represented Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District. "I am by no means surprised by the President’s decision to repeal DACA, but I am incredibly disheartened to see the Trump Administration turn its back on the DREAMers who were brought to our country when they were children. We are talking about deporting children – who have grown into able and solid young adults who work alongside us, pray with us, pay taxes, and had no say in their parent’s decision to come to this country. For this they should not be punished."

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the plan to rescind the program that protects 800,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as minors Tuesday in a press conference.

"The American people will not forgot today’s misguided decision by President Trump, which puts the lives of 800,000 people at risk," Evans said. "The same people who are contributing to our economy and our neighborhoods each and every day. I want to let all of the DREAMers not only in my District but those in our Commonwealth and our nation know, that I stand with you and I am here for you, and this injustice will not stand."

Starting on Wednesday, the administration will not accept any new applications for DACA. Registration in the program lasts for two years. Anyone whose registration expires in the next six months will have until Oct. 5 to apply for another two-year extension. But after DACA recipients' registrations expire outside the six-month window, they will not be able to reapply. This means, in part, that the hundreds of thousands of people who received work permits under the program will be forced to leave their jobs once their registrations expire.

"I do not favor punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents. But we must also recognize that we are nation of opportunity because we are a nation of laws," President Donald Trump said in statement. "We will resolve the DACA issue with heart and compassion – but through the lawful Democratic process – while at the same time ensuring that any immigration reform we adopt provides
enduring benefits for the American citizens we were elected to serve. We must also have heart and compassion for unemployed, struggling, and forgotten Americans."

According to the Center For American Progress, Pennsylvania would lose an estimated $357.1 million in gross domestic product should it lose the 5,123 workers who are here via DACA. The center says 5,889 total DACA recipients live in the state.

Image via DwightEvans.com