Salud Ortiz Carbajal: “In the past 5 years, the DACA program has given nearly 800,000 young men and women who came here as children, and have…”

“In the past 5 years, the DACA program has given nearly 800,000 young men and women who came here as children, and have only known the United States as their home, a shot at the American Dream. It rightfully allowed them to come forward to live, work, and learn in the United States legally, and without fear of deportation. President Trump, this week, made his most heartless decision yesterday by cruelly rescinding DACA protection for these young DREAMers. These DREAMers now face the painful reality of a President betraying their trust, forcing them back into the shadows, and kicking them out of their homes. These kids put their faith in our government to protect them. They underwent rigorous background checks and paid the required fees, all for an opportunity to better themselves and their communities. And we are failing them. I share a similar story as many of these DREAMers. I emigrated to the United States with my parents as a 5-year-old boy from Mexico. This great country since has given me the opportunity to work hard, raise my two children, and serve my country in local government, the military, and here in Congress. Terminating DACA and stripping DREAMers of that same hope and opportunity is unconscionable and incompatible with our American values. We are a nation of immigrants and are made stronger by their contributions.…”