As many of us are aware, President Trump recently made the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program unless Congress passes legislation that protects the nearly 800,000 Dreamers from being deported. The president’s decision to end DACA conflicts with American values of fairness, equality and opportunity for all.
President Trump has now put the ball in Congress’ court. As social workers, we must insist that members of Congress stand up for DACA recipients by passing the Dream Act of 2017.
The Dream Act of 2017 is a bipartisan bill that would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came here as children, and who graduate from U.S. high schools and attend college, enter the workforce, or enlist in a military program.
It is critical that Congress acts now.
What can social workers do?
- Call your member of Congress at 1-888-908-6307 and urge them to pass a clean Dream Act of 2017 (S. 1615)– without border security and enforcement provisions.
- Join the National Call to Support the Dream Act – Tuesday, September 19 at 6 p.m. ET.
- RSVP HERE for dial-in information
- Circulate the invitation widely. (Invitation attached).
- Participate in a Twitter Storm – Wednesday, September 20 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
- Contact: Patrick McNeil (McNeil@civilrights.org) if you would like to participate.
- Sample materials are attached to this alert email.
- On a state-by-state level, organize in-district “drop-bys” to your Congressional representatives to advocate for passage of the Dream Act (A congressional outreach list is attached).
For questions and coordination around this week of action, contact Jheanelle Wilkins (wilkins@civilrights.org).
