They have given personal
information about the circumstances of their arrivals. They have
answered questions that seek to figure out whether they have committed
crimes. If they applied and they received DACA status, we determined
that they were not threats in that regard to our public safety. We
asked questions that sought to figure out if they have graduated high
school. Are they living lawful and productive lives? It is only when
they cleared that extensive vetting that they qualified for DACA status
and received DACA status. Let's be clear. These Dreamers who receive DACA status study in our
colleges, serve in our military, and work in Fortune 100 companies. They are contributing to our economy in a way that we all are
benefiting. If DACA recipients were to be deported, it is estimated
that California would lose $11 billion a year. The U.S. economy as a
whole would lose an estimated $460 billion over a decade. It is also a fact that these young people have stood in classrooms
and stood in line in many places and have placed their hands over their
hearts, pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States--a flag
that many of us wear on our lapels, a flag that represents the best of
what we are in terms of the ideals upon which we were founded. We must
be true to those ideals and consistent in the way that we approach so
many issues as applied to this issue about what we do with these DACA
kids. We must keep our word and our promise to them and guarantee what
we promised, which is that we would not share their personal
information with ICE and that they would not be deported if they
continued to follow the rules. In my experience, it is also true that many who have opinions or who
have expressed opinions or who have the opportunity to make decisions
about this issue have never met a Dreamer. We cannot fault them, but
what we can ask is that those who have the power to make a decision on
this issue make it their business and make an effort to really
understand who we are talking about.
Keywords matched
deported DACA