PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, last week I was outraged when President
Trump announced that he would be ending the DACA program. DACA
recipients are contributing members of our society, have no criminal
record, and have known only this country as home. They work at leading
American companies. They have served our country in the military. On the day of the President's decision, I met with several young
people at Rutgers University in my district who may now face
deportation. I was impressed by their courage in coming forward to tell
their stories and to challenge the President's reckless action. Some examples: Yeimi, a 17-year-old from Freehold, left Mexico when
she was 1 year old. She said at the meeting I had: ``I do want to
become something in life, because that is why I am here. I do not want
this dream to be shattered because DACA, apparently, is going to be
killed.''
Then there is Alma, a 23-year-old from Perth Amboy in my district,
who added: ``DACA has opened doors for me that I never knew existed. The elimination of this executive order without an appropriate
replacement would not only be devastating for DREAMers but to the
country as a whole.'' And I agree with Alma. Mr. Speaker, these New Jerseyans embody the best America has to
offer, and I will continue to stand by their side as we work together
to protect their DACA status. We need to pass the Dream Act as quickly
as possible.
Keywords matched
DACA deportation