September 5, 2017
APANO Condemns the Cruel Rescinding of DACA
Five years ago, the United States government created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) Program. Nearly 800,000 people took the courageous step to apply for DACA - including over 11,000 Oregonians, and over 100,000 identifying as Asian and/or Pacific Islander. That’s 800,000 young adults who have been able to contribute to their communities, to work, go to school and to live their lives without fear of being ripped away from their families and from a country they consider home.
In a short time, the Trump Administration has taken many steps to further normalize and institutionalize White Supremacist ideology throughout its actions. Now, the Administration has announced it’s ending DACA, an effort that’s been carried forth by White Nationalist, anti-immigrant groups. Without this critical program, these 800,000 DACA recipients will be taken away from the only home and community they know, deported to countries they may not even remember, and will no longer able to work legally to support themselves and their families.
We cannot let this White Supremacist strategy endanger the lives of over 800,000 DACA recipients. Tell your member of Congress DACA recipients are #HereToStay.
When these young adults applied for the program, they followed program conditions, went through extensive vetting, paid large administrative fees. They gave government personal information. In turn, the government would seek a permanent fix to help them stay in the country they call home.
They were asked to trust and register with the government. They did. For these undocumented folks, it’s a leap of faith in a country that is their home, but doesn’t recognize them as Americans. Now in six short months, the federal government is going to use this information to target them.
Let’s be clear: the presidential administration’s ending of DACA is about moving forward with its White Supremacist agenda, and we will not stand for it. DACA recipients are human beings - they’re our friends, our family, our neighbors, and they all deserve dignity and respect.
To our undocumented community - we see you, we hear you, we support you. Here are a few resources on what to do and know:
- What Do I Need to Know if the DACA Program Ends? - Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- Top 5 Things to Know About Trump’s Announcement to End DACA - Here To Stay
- How to Protect Yourself and Your Family as DACA Ends
- Mental Health Toolkit (UndocuHealth Project) - Here To Stay
DACA Application/Renewal resources
- Momentum Alliance DACA Application Fee Scholarship
- Oregon DACA Coalition Scholarship
- Free DACA Renewal Clinic (Woodburn) - September 15
- Free DACA Renewal Day (Portland) - September 17
- Free DACA Renewal Day (Salem) - September 21
APANO asks its supporters to rise up and #DefendDACA:
