OP-ED: A Threat to DACA is a Threat to the Soul of America
By Gabe Cahn, HIAS.org
Sep 05, 2017
Young immigrants and supporters walk holding signs during a rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in Los Angeles, California on September 1, 2017.
(Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)
On Tuesday, September 5, the Trump administration announced its decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
The same day, Melanie Nezer, HIAS senior vice president for public affairs penned an oped in Haaretz arguing that “Threats to the DACA program are not only threats to immigrants, but to justice, fairness and the longstanding values of our country.”
Nezer goes on to write:
Like generations of immigrants before, including millions of Jewish parents and grandparents, the parents of these kids have made enormous sacrifices, not for themselves, but in the hope that their children would have a chance at a real future...
Now is the time for American Jews to take a stand and take action through elected officials in Congress. We can call Congress and insist that our representatives immediately pass a law that will allow these kids and young adults to stay here legally and permanently. This law must include no conditions or trade-offs, or in any way punish other immigrants.
We must restore basic fairness and morality to the way we treat immigrants in this country, and there is no better place to start than with these young Americans.
To read the full oped in Haaretz, click here.
