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El CENTRO and Allies Denounce Attack on DACA and Immigrant Families

  Commentary: Albuquerque---Today, in the wake of the Trump administration’s announcement to rescind DACA,  El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos (El CENTRO), the largest immigrants’ rights and workers’ justice organization in Albuquerque, allies, and elected officials  denounced Trump’s decision as heartless, cruel, and counter to the cultural, moral, social, and economic interests of the nation. Click here to read the DHS’s press release on DACA.

 

There is a groundswell of support for DACA:-from voters and elected officials across the political spectrum,  to the CEO of some of the largest corporations, to  the US Conference of Catholic Bishops With the announcement that the Trump administration is rescinding DACA, proponents of the program are urging Congress to take action to ensure that the approximately 800,000 thousand DREAMers don’t lose their work authorization and protection from deportation. Supporters  caution that protections for DREAMers cannot be linked to increased funding for border militarization, the targeting of and criminalization of immigrant workers,  and the expansion of federal detention and deportation programs.

 

Marian Mendez,DACA beneficiary, and community organizer at EL CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos said, “this attack is yet one more example of Trump promoting a white supremacist agenda that aims to target and persecute immigrant families, communities of color, and low-wage workers. I am proud to come from a community of immigrant workers, such as my parents, who comprise  New Mexico’s workers that take care of our elderly and children,  build and roof our homes, pick the chile that we are so proud of, work in the dairies and oil fields, and work in the service industry.  During this new Trump era, we will push our Congressional delegation to protect our families and fight back against attacks on sanctuary cities and increased border and interior enforcement. We are New Mexicans and we are here to stay!”

Norma Dorado, the mother of a DREAMER, worker, and a member of El CENTRO, speaks about the detrimental effects ending DACA will  have for her family and her community, “Immigrant parents arrived to this country to provide a better future for our families, and our worst nightmare is seeing our children being stripped of their rights as a consequence of racist anti-immigrant policies.  DACA became possible through the tireless efforts of our communities in fighting for our children’s rights. In desperate moments like these, we draw on the same resilience we had when fighting for the creation  of DACA, when we fought back against Governor Martinez’ anti-immigrant agenda, and when we resisted Mayor Berry’s deportation programs.    We will continue fighting, and we will continue to ensure our local officials pass laws to protect our communities.”

State Representative Javier Martínez made a call for elected officials to take a stand to protect all immigrant families, “Ending DACA and shattering the dreams, livelihood, and security of  hundreds of thousands of DREAMERS across the nation and thousands of New Mexico families is further proof that Trump's agenda is aligned with white supremacists and is against both New Mexico's and the nation's moral and economic interests. Local elected officials stand by our New Mexico Congressional delegation to protect DREAMERS, but we must ensure that President Trump doesn't try to use DREAMers as a bargaining chip to support legislation that would afford them legal status in exchange for funding his enforcement and deportation machine.  This would be an unethical form of blackmail that would promise the security of DREAMERS in exchange for the targeting of their parents. In line with the majority of New Mexican's values, we must strive for policies, both locally, and in Washington DC, that aim to keep all of New Mexico's families together.”

Christian Nuñez Martinez, a construction worker and member of El CENTRO’s workers’ committee speaks to the consequences rescinding DACA will have on his family “Since DACA, I have been able to secure a stable and reliable higher paying job and take out loans-- contributing more to economy. I am in the process of becoming a commercial truck driver at the same time that my family and I are trying to buy a house. Once my DACA expires,  I am afraid my families dreams will not be realized. Although Trump’s announcement is a blow to our movement, I know that there is strength and resilience in our communities to keep each other safe and to fight back.”

 

City Councilor Isaac Benton responded to the announcement, “attacking immigrant-friendly cities and rescinding DACA are extreme and  sinister  attacks by the Trump administration against our community. I am proud that our City Council affirmed that Albuquerque remains immigrant-friendly. In the absence of DACA I’ll work to strengthen local ordinances as required to prevent us being complicit in President Trump's deportation of DREAMERS and immigrant families. We cannot use local government’s precious police resources to target responsible hard-working tax-payers, small business owners, co-workers, neighbors, students; the people with whom we must work to improve public safety. We are ONE Albuquerque and in these times of turmoil, we must come together as a community.”

 

County Commissioner Hart-Stebbins responded to the White House announcement, "I am appalled by today’s White House decision that threatens to deport so many of our young residents. In response to yet another extreme, harmful policy coming from the White House, I join local elected officials in working to strengthen policies that protect all immigrant workers and their families, including DREAMERS. I am proud that the Bernalillo County Commission stood by our immigrant friendly county resolution and rejected President Trump's attempt to coerce the County into illegal practices that would target immigrant communities.  I reject all efforts to undermine public safety and our collective values and am ready to stand with the community I was elected to serve."

 

According to a recent survey, at least 72% of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies employ DACA recipients. In New Mexico alone, ending DACA would cost New Mexico more than $384.6 million in annual GDP losses.  

 

El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos is a grassroots, immigrants' rights and workers' justice organization based in Albuquerque, NM that works with Latino immigrant communities and allies to defend, strengthen, and advance the rights of our community.