Congressman Connolly’s Statement on DACA and DREAMers

Source: House Representative Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly (D-VA, 11th)

Washington, D.C. - September 1, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Gerry Connolly issued the following statement on DACA and the contributions of DREAMers to Virginia in response to troubling reports that President Trump may end the DACA program:

“Since its creation in 2012, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has given nearly 800,000 DREAMers the opportunity to work and attend school. In Virginia, we have more than 12,000 DREAMers and they have contributed more than $711.4 million to our annual GDP. These young, hardworking DREAMers are contributing to our communities, creating jobs, serving our military, teaching our children, and caring for our family members. Ending DACA is a moral outrage and we must protect this program. That is why I am offering an amendment to protect these DREAMers from deportation by prohibiting DHS from using information submitted through the DACA program to initiate removal proceedings.”