JACL Joins AAPI Coalition in Support of DACA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 31, 2017

Press Release

Contact: David Inoue, Executive Director, dinoue@jacl.org

The Japanese American Citizens League joined NCAPA and several other Asian American organizations for a press conference in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Executive Director David Inoue made the following statement:

As Americans, we all have an immigrant story. For Japanese Americans, we have our Issei. This usually refers to the Japanese who came to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. They came with dreams.

They built homes, businesses, farms, a vibrant community, and, of course, families. Their children were born here, American citizens. Yet in spite of them doing what was expected, contributing to the community, to the economy, 75 years ago, they were ordered into concentration camps and incarcerated for nothing more than being Japanese and Japanese American. 120,000 people whose lives were uprooted and whose American dreams were crushed.

We always say we need to learn from history. If so, why are we on the path today towards crushing the dreams of our DACA recipients? The immigrant story and their success is one that is so fundamental to the values of our country and today the Japanese American Citizens League is here to stand up for protecting the American dream for all of our DACA dreamers.

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.