The LGBTQIA Alliance of Vermont condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the decision by the Trump administration to cancel the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This program was started to allow youths who have largely been raised in the US and who have no criminal records to receive a two year, renewable, period of protection from deportation. DACA was seen as a way of removing attention from these kids to allow immigration enforcement to focus on dangerous individuals.
While this racist and anti-immigrant move is unsurprising, the fact that the announcement came while Houston and other areas of Texas are still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey only emphasizes the administration’s lack of caring, insight, and wisdom.
While cancelling the program will directly effect around 800,000 young people, the reverberations will be felt across the nation, including in the LGBTQI community. Trump’s move will affect approximately 75,000 LGBTQ individuals who qualify for the program, including the 36,000 currently participating in DACA, according to the public policy research group The Williams Institute.
Assuming that the Trump administration continues it’s policy of targeting immigrants with strong work records, existing family ties and long term residency, it is unclear what future these young people face.
This move is unAmerican, racist and cruel and the LGBTQIA Alliance of Vermont deplores the decision and calls on congress to immediately renew and strengthen the program.