Campaign Action
As the fate of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) hangs in the balance, DACA recipients, immigrant youth, and their allies from the immigrant rights movement are planning a national day of action on Tuesday, Aug. 15 to stand with and defend the hundreds of thousands of hard-working people who have have benefitted from the two immigration programs and “are contributing to the economic engine of this country.”
During a press call with immigrant rights group America’s Voice today, Greisa Martinez, a DACA recipient and leader with immigrant youth group United We Dream, called on all allies to rally on behalf of DACA and TPS during this national day of mobilization. Many of the program recipients have been here for years, have built families here, and know no other country but the U.S. as their home. They deserve a chance to stay and continue building their lives here:
“Congress must defend DACA and TPS, initiate an investigation on ICE agents, and stand against all hate legislation. Tomorrow, thousands will rally in cities across the country and in front of the White House to tell the white supremacists that this is our home and we are here to stay. We will rally in California, in Washington, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, New York, Florida and all over the country. It’s indisputable: DACA works. It’s a program that all people can be proud of and is a living, breathing example of what sensible, effective immigration policy looks like. In a sea of horrible news, the DACA program is a ray of light.
“Now is the moment to stand up for DACA,” said Martinez, “and for a country where every single immigrant and person of color can thrive and pursue a life of freedom, purpose, and happiness.”
Since the DACA program began accepting applications five years ago this week, some 800,000 immigrant youth have been able to work legally, apply for driver’s licenses, and live free from the fear of deportation. They make contributions to our communities and are professionals, students, and loving parents. But today, the program remains perilously at risk, following a threat from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and nine other Republican state leaders to sue the Trump administration unless it ends the program by September 5.
Among TPS recipients—refugees who have been granted permission to stay in the U.S. following disasters in their home countries—many are facing deportation as soon as January if the Trump administration decides to not renew their status, something both Republican and Democratic administrations have repeatedly renewed in the past. This would mean cruelly uprooting American kids, like 10-year-old Vanessa. “I’m not afraid, but I have to be concerned about it,” she said during a press conference marking a 180-day countdown until her family’s TPS is set to expire and face deportation to Haiti:
“We wish for the business community to support our campaign because, as you can imagine, 80 percent of TPS-holders are working,” [Haitian Women of Miami executive director Marleine] Bastien said. “They are our teachers, professors, business owners. They are very heavy in our industries here in Florida... so we need the chambers of commerce to come and support.”
“Tomorrow, immigrant youth from across Texas will bring our defense of DACA to Paxton’s office as we march on the 5th anniversary of our victorious fight for DACA—because we will not back down,” said Damaris Gonzalez, a DACA recipient who recently confronted a tongue-tied Paxton over his attacks on DACA and immigrant families. “We demand that he withdraw his hypocritical and heartless threats to DACA.”
According the call, immigrant rights advocates will be rallying in front of the White House, in addition to other cities across the nation. To find a rally, take to the streets, and stand with immigrant youth and other immigrants at risk of being torn from the families and homes, click here and find an event near you through the Defend DACA website. Below, Martinez issues a call to action in a must-watch video from United We Dream and MoveOn.