Children of immigrants are Americans - protected from deportation

A majority of Americans agree with protecting the immigration status of children, under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), by preventing their deportations, just because cruel Donald Trump and his Trumpzi administration wants to please the right wing political base. 

Regrettably, I get the impression that Donald Trump and the Trumpzi cult would just as soon put all of who are children of immigrants on deportation airplanes. Indeed, if the Trump administration can deport children of some immigrants, what's to stop them from doing the same to all of us?

Here's a letter to the editor published in the North Dakota, Grand Forks Herald written by Bruce W. Furness ~ Fargo

Letter: Saving DACA should be a priority in U.S.

To the editor,

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act, which allows children who entered the U.S. to request permission to remain here for school, university attendance, or work, was (sadly and wrongly!) terminated in September, by Donald Trump (and the Trumpzi)  administration.

Though not receiving a great deal of attention in North Dakota, the DACA program has allowed nearly 100 young people to come forward, pass background checks and live and work legally in our state. DACA helps these young people thrive economically and educationally.

Across our nation, DACA has changed the lives of nearly 800,000 young people who have lived in the United State since their childhood, allowing them to better contribute to their families and communities.

This month, 100 top business executives sent a letter to leaders in Congress asking them to quickly resolve this situation and to stop the deportation of the young 'DREAMers', 91 percent of whom are working and contributing to society. Failing to resolve this issue could lead to a $215 billion reduction in the U.S. gross domestic product.

The arrival of people with new accents, new ideas and new ways of doing things are part of what fueled the growth of Fargo while I served as its mayor. 

In fact, in Fargo, we welcomed people from all parts of the U.S. and the world to help grow our economy and fill job openings. With nearly 13,000 openings in North Dakota today, we can look to the Dreamers to help keep our state's future economy strong and vibrant.

Besides the economic impact, there is an emotional impact on these young people who have only known life in America.

Contact Sen. Hoeven, Sen. Heitkamp and Rep. Kevin Cramer, to gain their support for the re-establishment of DACA (including a provision for their right to a path to citizenship!). 

We need quick restoration, not only to strengthen the economy, but because it's the right thing to do.

Bruce W. Furness,  Former mayor of Fargo