Rep. Craig Condemns Trump Administration’s Attacks on DACA Recipients, Disregard for Due Process

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig and 94 of her colleagues condemned the Trump Administration's blatant attacks on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons, Rep. Craig cited several instances in which DACA recipients have been detained or deported by U.S. immigration authorities despite the legal and humanitarian protections they are afforded under the law.

“These developments raise serious concerns about compliance with established guidelines, court orders, and whether the due process rights of these individuals have been respected,” the Members wrote. “According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, there are approximately over 533,000 active DACA recipients in the U.S. These young adults are integral parts of our communities and undergo recurring vetting through the renewal process to retain protections and work authorization.”   

In the letter, the Members demanded answers about how many DACA recipients have been detained or deported since the beginning of the Trump Administration and what steps are being taken to remedy erroneous deportations.

“The recent enforcement actions against DACA recipients not only violate the spirit of the program but also disrupt families, harm communities, and inflict unnecessary social, emotional, and economic costs,” the Members concluded.

Rep. Craig has always fought for America’s DACA recipients and advocated for a legal pathway to citizenship for our nation’s Dreamers.

Rep. Craig has repeatedly cosponsored the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, and recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries. Last Congress, she was a cosponsor of the America’s CHILDREN Act, which would provide a pathway to permanent residency for individuals who were brought to the United States as dependent children of workers admitted under approved employer petitions, have maintained status in the United States for 10 years (including four years as a dependent) and have graduated from an institution of higher education.

You can read the full text of the letter here. 

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