President Donald Trump The US Conference of Catholic Bishops urged the Trump administration to “ensure permanent protection” for young people brought to the US as minors without legal documentation.
Chair of the Migration Committee, Bishop Joe Vasquez of Texas, reiterated the bishops’ support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a 2012 policy which gives recipients a temporary reprieve from deportation and employment authorisation in the US as long as they meet certain criteria.
During his campaign for president, Donald Trump said he would get rid of the programme but later backtracked. It’s unclear what will happen to the estimated 750,000 youth who signed up for the program.
“DACA youth are contributors to our economy, veterans of our military, academic standouts in our universities, and leaders in our parishes,” said Bishop Vasquez.
“These young people entered the U.S. as children and know America as their only home. The dignity of every human being, particularly that of our children and youth, must be protected.”
He urged the administration “to continue administering the DACA program and to publicly ensure that DACA youth are not priorities for deportation.”
The bishops join other Catholic institutions who are worried about the group and urging protection.