For Immediate Release
Contact: Dan Gordon, 617-651-0841
July 21, 2021 

Local Faith, Business, Law Enforcement and Other Leaders Respond to DACA Decision 

Following U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen’s decision Friday that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is unlawful and suspended new applications, local leaders from Florida to California are urging Congress to protect Dreamers.

The following is a sample of quotes from local leaders, and the full list is online. For additional context on the decision, please see Friday’s Forum statement and explainer.

Eric Costanzo, Pastor at South Tulsa Baptist Church, Oklahoma:
"I’m privileged to know many Dreamers in and around our church community in Tulsa. Many make substantial contributions to Oklahoma in fields like health care, education, and industry. Why do our elected officials continue allowing these young people to languish in a cruel legal limbo? It’s long past time to find a permanent solution for Dreamers with a path to citizenship here in the only country they’ve known. I pray our elected officials will lead the way in protection the Dreamers — they are our children."        

Father David Esquiliano, Judicial Vicar of Catholic Diocese of Sioux City and Rector of the Cathedral of the Epiphany, Iowa:
"Dreamers are people who were brought to this country at an earlier age, without their consent, and many without the capacity to understand what was happening to them. They have spent most of their lives in this country, they have grown up in this country, they have offered their talents in benefit of this country. They did it not knowing if they would ever be able to personally benefit from their contributions. They should not be held responsible for the actions of others, but be rewarded for their love and dedication to the United States."                      

Jesse Rincones, Executive Director, Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas (Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas):             
"Once again tens of thousands of Dreamers are left in precarious positions. A permanent legislative solution for Dreamers will provide stability not only to the Dreamers themselves, but also to family members, friends, colleagues, and employers who depend on them. Justice — and the majority of Americans — demand that Congress and the administration act to provide a permanent solution for these young leaders who have contributed greatly to this country."

Police Chief Orlando Rolón, Orlando, Florida; Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force Co-chair:
"For children who entered this country unlawfully, America is the only home they’ve ever known. Many of these children have grown up in our neighborhoods and have become contributing members of our society. As a nation we have a moral obligation to protect deserving individuals who have earned the opportunity to remain in this country. Congress has a duty to quickly act to find bipartisan permanent solutions that protect our nation from injustices of the past, present, and future. Dreamers deserve this from our congressional leaders."

Montserrat Santos, DACA recipient and student at the University of California, Merced:
"I am currently a first-year graduate student in the quantitative and systems biology doctoral program at the University of California Merced. Hearing about the recent ruling in Texas regarding DACA has been very disappointing news because DACA has allowed me to pursue my dreams. Without DACA I would have not been able to get a bachelor's degree, pursue cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical center through the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence Program, and certainly not a Ph.D. in molecular/cell biology. I want to contribute to the science and medicine world with my research and I know there are more undocumented students like me, who want to contribute to the betterment of society. By not allowing new DACA applicants, they are tearing the dreams of young people and opportunities for this nation. This ruling also leaves the futures of current DACA recipients pending because we all are unsure of what might come next. I greatly hope that this unjust and cruel ruling gets overturned because no one deserves to have their dream crushed due to their legal status."

Chuck Spong, Executive Director, Love Out Loud, Winston-Salem, North Carolina:
"Legislative action on DACA is long overdue, with broad, significant bipartisan support throughout our communities and our nation. Dreamers have been remarkable members of our communities since childhood and have been contributing to the betterment of our communities in numerous ways even as they live in a constant state of uncertainty. As the recent judicial ruling illustrates, we need clear and concrete policy at the federal level now."

Cameron Ventura, Executive Customer Relations Manager, Amazon, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina:
"Congress' inaction over the past twelve years has culminated in this very moment in which the fate of hundreds of thousands of our neighbors, who have proven their responsibility and value to our communities, hangs precariously. Congress must act today for the good of our nation and the good of our local neighborhoods."

###