JACL Disappointed by Decision to End DACA

September 5th, 2017

The Japanese American Citizens League is deeply disappointed by the Trump administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA has supported nearly 800,000 young immigrants, or Dreamers, who have worked hard to fit the program’s strict requirements. As a nation we have always prided ourselves on protecting the innocent. In this case, we have failed the children who were brought to this country by their parents, have created full lives as Americans, and have done nothing wrong as they fulfilled their parents’ dreams. To take away these children’s dreams is especially cruel and vicious.

Repeal of DACA protections will create unnecessary chaos in the communities as families will be torn apart. Additionally, America will experience significant losses to the economy. The cost of workforce replacement alone is estimated will cost American businesses $3.4 billion in turnover costs. The overall impact to the economy is estimated to be $460.3 billion in lost GDP over the next ten years. This disruption and chaos the repeal of DACA will create is reminiscent of when 120,000 Japanese Americans were uprooted from their communities, homes, and businesses during World War II and placed in concentration camps.

For many in the Japanese American community, our immigration occurred many years ago with our Issei generation. Our community is built upon their dreams. It is with this knowledge of what the American dream has meant for our community, and the dreams of the Issei who have immigrated more recently, that we stand with the immigrant community today in opposition to DACA repeal.

We are a nation of immigrants, all with the dream of building a better life, both individually and for our country. We urge the Congress to find common ground in preserving the American dream, and pass the bipartisan Dream Act of 2017.

The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community.