New Yorkers rally in support of preserving DACA

MANHATTAN, NY — More rallies like this one in New York City on Wednesday evening are being held across the country, many fearing the Trump administration would shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program soon.
Vanessa Barrios from Brooklyn says all Filipinos should be concerned.

“It’s us. It’s our kababayans. It’s our people from the Philippines who are going to be affected by this policy. And if we don’t act now, they’re gonna come for us.”
US Senator Bob Menendez sounded the alarm in Jersey City earlier on Wednesday, when he met with some Dreamers — young undocumented immigrants brought here as children.

“Ending this program creates a national emergency. It would shatter families and it would strike fear into our communities,” Menendez said. “And let’s not forget that ending DACA would shrink New Jersey’s economy by over $1.5 billion annually, and reduce the US economy by $460 billion over the next decade.”

“They’ve given everything that they have everything to this country. They’ve given taxes. They are homeowners. They are renters,” said Barrios. “They are our friends. And this isn’t just an economic issue. This is a moral issue.”

In June, ten attorneys general threatened to sue the Trump administration if DACA was not shut down by September 5th. They argue that the program was created improperly because it did not get congressional approval.

On Wednesday night, more than 1,850 leaders from around the country, including state governors, have signed onto a statement asking President Trump to preserve DACA.

Meanwhile, immigrant advocate Jose Lopez saysthey will continue to hold rallies.

“We want to make sure that young people in NYC and across the country understand that the larger communities have their back and we have the back of all immigrant communities.”