Immigrant Advocacy Groups Vow to Defend DACA and TPS Programs for more than 1 Million Individuals

NEWARK, NJ (August 30, 2017) – Senator Bob Menendez stood in the steady rain in front of the Peter Rodino Federal Building in Newark on Tuesday to voice his support for members of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice who gathered to fight to defend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs for more than 1 million people.

“It was an honor to join dozens of courageous New Jerseyans in standing up to defend a program that heightens America’s moral standing in the world and embodies our nation’s principles of diversity, compassion, and generosity,” said Senator Bob Menendez. “TPS has been a long-standing and successful program that has offered humane protection to foreign nationals living in the U.S. when they are unable to return to their home countries due to natural disasters, armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions. As the Trump administration considers not extending TPS, they must understand we will not stand idly by as they insist on assaulting American values by kicking out as many immigrants as possible in the name of nativism.”

Dozens of immigration advocates from member organizations such as the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Centro Comunitario CEUS, Wind of the Spirit, Make the Road New Jersey, SEIU 32BJ, and Temple of Unified Christians, held up signs and chanted slogans, despite the continual downfall. DACA and TPS recipients were among the dozen speakers.

“Recipients of TPS and DACA have made the United States their home as leaders, neighbors, students and coworkers,” said Dina Mansour of the Alliance. “They have earned the right to pursue the American dream as have generations of immigrants before them.

President Trump’s vicious pursuit of them is immoral, unethical, and cruel. Ending these programs will shatter the lives and dreams of hundreds of thousands while tearing their families apart.”

The Trump Administration is considering cutting both programs. TPS, which was established in 1990, is a temporary, renewable program providing relief from deportation and access to a work permit for certain migrants who are unable to safely return to their home country, including El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Haiti. There are 10 countries around the world currently designated for TPS. Recently, Acting Director of U.S, Citizenship & Immigration Services James McCament proposed rescinding TPS for Haitians citing improved conditions in that country. 

“Many of these individuals who have come here under TPS have become fully acclimated members of the American community and have contributed economically through their taxes and support of local businesses,” said Blanca Molina executive director of Centro Comunitario CEUS.

“They have established families who are now U.S. citizens. These families will be torn apart if TPS is terminated. Sending these individuals back to their impoverished, politically volatile countries of origin will devastate their families and their communities. Most importantly, such an action violates a tenet upon which this country was established.”

The DACA program, which protects 800,000 young people, is also under threat of termination by the Trump Administration, maybe as early as September 1. These undocumented young people, called DREAMERS, arrived in the U.S. as young children and have few, if any, connection to their native country. Once here, they have been active participants in their adopted home, going to school, working, and serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. If DACA is revoked, New Jersey stands to lose $1.5 billion in GDP.

According to a national survey, “DACA recipients continue to make positive and significant contributions to the economy, including earning higher wages, which translates into higher tax —

revenues and economic growth that benefits all Americans. In addition, DACA recipients are buying cars, purchasing their first homes, and even creating new businesses. The survey’s results also show that at least 72 percent of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies employ DACA recipients. Moreover, 97 percent of respondents are currently employed or enrolled in school.”

“There has been some speculation that Trump is using DACA as a bargaining tool to get his $1.6 billion wall built,” said Chia-Chia Wang of AFSC. “It is immoral to play politics with the futures of hundreds of thousands of young people. Dreamers are human beings, not tokens or line items, who deserve dignity and respect. They are our newest college graduates, teachers, nurses, and soldiers. America is a stronger country because they are here.”

The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice is a statewide membership-based coalition that supports immigrants to become economically, politically and socially established in the state. Through their member organizations, they work to ensure that New Jersey’s immigrant communities are leaders in the development of policies that impact their lives and the lives of all New Jersey residents. Through the work of NJAIJ and its members, New Jersey will ensure access to services, support family unity, and develop policies and strategies that provide opportunities for immigrants to fully participate in civic life. The Alliance works toward developing policies that support the dignity and human and civil rights of immigrants.