Courtney Statement On Decision To Rescind DACA

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) released the following statement following a decision by President Donald Trump to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an immigration executive order affecting DREAMers issued by President Barack Obama

"President Trump's move to rescind DACA is a misguided attempt at punishing children for the actions of their parents," said Courtney. "The president's decision to remove temporary protection for DREAMers will lead to the indiscriminate deportation of some of the brightest and most talented students in our country. The vast majority of the people covered by DACA have lived in the United States since they were in grade school and have earned their place in this country the same way as any other American. As an original cosponsor of the American Hope Act that will codify DACA and protect these young people, I will work to reverse this harmful decision by the president.

"In addition to the moral questions posed by such a move, the president's decision to rescind DACA will carry significant economic consequences for our country as well. Many estimates show that without the people currently covered by DACA our annual GDP would shrink by billion of dollars. These students are not ‘takers' as some would portray them, but are in fact hard working people – many of them highly educated. Our nation's employers have made their views loud and clear on this topic: we need these students in America's workforce, not in handcuffs."

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