CHC Release: Congressional Hispanic Caucus Outraged At ICE Tweets On DACA

Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), CHC Immigration Task Force Chair Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04), and CHC Education and Labor Task Force Chair Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Thomas D. Homan to express outrage at a series of tweets that ICE issued on March 9, 2017 regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for DREAMers.

Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01): "It is shameful that ICE is ratcheting up fear and terror in young people who courageously stepped out of the shadows, got right with the law, and applied for DACA. These are young people who represent the best of America. For the Administration to behave in such a hostile manner toward them is unacceptable. Since the DACA program began, these young people have had an enormous effect on educational and employment outcomes and have been a major driver of economic growth--for individuals and families, as well as cities and states. We should strive for more sensible, fair, and compassionate immigration policies like DACA, not threaten to rescind them."

Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04): "President Trump and his people should keep their hands off of the DREAMers, period. Tweeting out that every DACA recipient is vulnerable to deportation is just another way this President is trying to create fear in immigrant communities, to make families and children think that their government could come after them at any time. It is disgusting behavior on the part of the Department of Homeland Security and the White House and it needs to stop."

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03): "DHS's recent tweets make clear what many of us have known for some time: Donald Trump and this administration are more interested in deporting immigrants than they are in protecting families or retaining talent for our workforce. The DACA program was a commitment between our government and bright young people all across this country who have never known another place as home. Instead of honoring that commitment, Trump and his administration continue to imply that they would rather punish DACA recipients for choices they never made. Trump should know that fear is not a substitute for leadership -- he can continue trying to terrorize immigrant communities, but immigrants will rise above his hate each and every time."

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