Dreamers: The best of this nation
President Donald Trump has handed Congress a hot potato. In deciding to phase out the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which protected the children of immigrants who came to the United States illegally, Trump built in a six-month grace period before deportations could begin. He has called on Congress to act on a replacement before that happens. Lawmakers should move with speed so that young adults who came to this country as children — the so-called Dreamers — can find a legal way to remain in the country of their hearts.
These young people have been raised here, including thousands in New Mexico. They hold down responsible jobs. They attend colleges and universities. Many serve or have served in the armed forces, defending this nation. One of them, Alonso Guillén, died last month, drowning while saving victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. The United States is their country. Period. Trump’s decision is unnecessarily cruel to tens of thousands of young men and women who call the United States home. This, despite Trump saying, “I have a great heart” for DACA recipients. Compassion is well and good, but action proves heart, not platitudes.
A president with a heart does not reverse a policy that has offered young people the opportunity to build productive lives. A president with a heart does not let the threat of deportation return to blight their lives. A president with a heart does not just tweet, “Congress, get ready to do your job — DACA!”
No, that president — not his attorney general — would announce his decision and, in the same news conference, present his legislative solution. Trump could have had his bill replacing DACA ready to hand out as he announced the policy, showing his determination to pass this important legislation. An executive order, as we are seeing, can be overturned by subsequent presidents. Legislative action by Congress will give policy a permanence that Dreamers deserve.
Congress should act immediately to provide protection for immigrants who came here as children. There is broad bipartisan support. Politico reports that only 15 percent of voters think Dreamers should be deported, with 58 percent believing that these young, undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay and become citizens if they meet certain requirements (which goes further than current DACA guidelines, by the way.)
Leave broad immigration reform — something the Trump administration is pushing — for another time, and better, more humane legislation. Instead, quickly protect the 800,000 or so young people now shielded under DACA so they do not have to worry about being deported. And, while Congress ponders the issue, lawsuits already are being filed challenging Trump’s action — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is part of one by AGs who want to halt Trump’s decision. Obviously, swift action is needed to resolve uncertainty.
With the U.S. government in possession of their names, addresses and other information, young immigrants know they can be picked up and deported easily. (New Mexico’s U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall earlier this year introduced the Protect Dreamer Confidentiality Act of 2017, designed to keep personal information from being used for deportation purposes. This is a worthy first step.)
Mass deportations would not just be inhumane, they would be bad for the country economically. According to figures from Sen. Udall, pushing these young people out of the workforce could cost the United States some 700,000 jobs and $460.3 billion in economic output over the next decade. Some $24.6 billion will be lost in Medicare and Social Security contributions as well.
Immigrants who are receiving DACA protection meet strict guidelines — only individuals who came to the United States before turning 16 but who were younger than 31 could apply. They had to be in or completing school and could not have criminal records; permits had to be renewed every two years, with the requirements remaining in place. Currently, some 91 percent of DACA recipients are employed, with 44.9 percent in school. What country would not want such productive people?
Certainly the United States needs their energy, intelligence and patriotism. These immigrants represent the best of our nation. We cannot afford to lose them.