Raise Your Voice For Dreamers
Raise Your Voice For Dreamers
It's Time for Congress to Act
Today, September 13, 2023, Judge Hanen of Texas delivered an expected verdict—he ruled the DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Arrival) program instituted by President Obama, and tweaked by President Biden, to be unconstitutional. The program instituted in 2012 to protect minors, brought to the United States by their parents, from deportation. It allows them to build a life without the fear and anxiety of being sent to a country and a culture they didn’t know. It gives them the possibility of attending college and/or finding a job; DACA gives them the opportunity to contribute to the flourishing of our communities.
Judge Heyen’s decision did not dismantle the program—as part of his decision he allowed it to remain in place for current DACA holders as the case moves through the appeal process. However, many Dreamers are left on the outside looking in, waiting for their opportunity to get on with life. The Biden administration will appeal the decision, which will most likely end up in the Supreme Court. In the meantime, Dreamers are left in a vulnerable situation.
Christian Penichet-Paul, Assistant Vice President of Policy & Advocacy
for the National Immigration Forum, describes the fall out this way:
DACA has been a lifeline for nearly 600,000 people who are studying and working in the U.S., including in many industries where worker shortages are an ongoing and serious challenge. Dreamers are essential members of our communities, and their contributions are critical to our economy: DACA recipients hold $25 billion in spending power in the American economy, and contribute billions in federal, state and local taxes each year.
For the Christian community, God’s word is clear about how God’s people should treat immigrants and refugees. God’s law bends toward a form of justice that values human life because every human being is made in the image of God. This is clearly stated in the book of Leviticus, a book that focuses on holiness—God’s holiness for sure, but also the holiness of God’s people. Holiness, in this context, is framed as righteousness and justice—it’s making sure our neighbors have what they need to make a life for themselves. Leviticus 19 says:
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19: 33-34 NIV)
This issue is not partisan—it transcends the labels of conservative or liberal, republican or democrat. This is about our friends, family members, classmates, and neighbors, who need us to speak up on their behalf. Please take the time to contact your members of congress to tell them it’s time for a permanent solution for Dreamers. It’s easy to do—just click HERE and fill out the form. Then, spread the word—ask others to raise their voice for Dreamers.
Congress has the authority to enact legislation that will provide a way forward for Dreamers. It’s up to us—the people—to insist they do the right thing.
What I simply don’t understand about pro immigration advocates is their complete ignorance of the fact that there are literally billions of people in the world who would love to come to the United States and be cared for by our taxpayers. Do they see no limit on our ability to provide this care given our inability to provide housing for our own citizens?
People are going to have to take care of their local communities and flourish where they are born. We have to quit overpopulating and destroying our local environments and thinking we can just move somewhere else and start over. There are no more green pastures. Within the US, because we have a commitment to our own citizens, climate change will require massive internal migration as the Colorado River dries up and excessive heat makes Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas uninhabitable. They didn’t name it Death Valley for nothing. The rest of the west will continue to burn and millions will have to move to survive. Much of south Florida and many populated areas along the Eastern and Gulf seaboards will be under water. The US will struggle to resettle millions of people in higher and cooler areas where fresh water is available. We will simply be unable to deal with a large influx of immigrants and relocating our own citizens at the same time. The same holds true for most countries. No place will be willing to accept millions of immigrants.