The Trump administration today announced the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program. The DACA program has served as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought to this country as children and know the United States as home. The following is a statement from Steven Brown, ACLU of RI executive director, reacting to the White House announcement rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

“With today’s announcement, the federal government has thrown the lives and futures of thousands of young immigrants and their families into disarray. In Rhode Island alone, more than 1000 people, brought to this country as children by their parents, have used their DACA status to give back to our communities.  These young people – doctors, soldiers and students - know this country as their home, and now their fate hangs in the balance.

“This is a hard day for the immigrant community, for Rhode Island, and for the nation as a whole.  But we must continue to fight for the futures of these Americans and to hold those responsible for this injustice accountable.”