Against the backdrop of reports of President Donald J. Trump leading the charge to revoke Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) this morning defended the program, which has allowed 800,000 brought into this country as children through no fault of their own to legally remain in the U.S. and contribute positively to its economy and culture. 

Menendez noted that the Trump Administration could rescind the DACA program as early as today. 

Joining the senator in support: Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-32), Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-33), Jersey City Councilman Rolando Lavarro, the Carpenters, 32BJ Seiu, the ACLU, and LAN.

“Ending the DACA program would create a national emergency. It would shatter families and strike fear into our communities,” said Menendez. “How stupid, how cruel, how reckless is a policy that puts hardened criminals and law-abiding students in the same bucket for deportation?  The message out of today’s rally was loud and clear: We will fight this administration every step of the way if they choose to go after our DREAMers, and we will also seek legislative measures that enshrine protections, put families first, harness the talents of all of our young people and honor the motto that has defined America from the start – Out of many, we are one. I worked for years to make this program a reality, and I refuse to see it dismantled in the name of nativism.”