Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain responds to President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program:
Ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is nothing less than cruel and heartless. Taking away DACA undermines our nation’s economy and unravels the fabric which holds us together. This decision from President Donald Trump will hurt families seeking refuge, puts the future of thousands of young people into jeopardy, and will potentially destroy millions of families by mass and senseless deportations.
In Oregon, this decision impacts over 11,000 people. They are our co-workers, our classmates, our friends, and our family. They deserve respect. They deserve compassion. They do not deserve to be attacked, intimidated, and shamed for being a vital part of our country, states, and communities.
We, as a nation, can and must do better than this. The unions of the Oregon AFL-CIO will stand with these brave young workers and will continue to fight for legislation so that the contributions they make are celebrated, rather than assaulted.