Trump Administration Announcement to End DACA Reinforces Educators’ Pledge to Continue to Make Sure Classrooms Are Safe and Supportive Places for all Students

Contacts: Claudia Briggs at 916-325-1550 or Frank Wells 562-708-5425

BURLINGAME – CTA President Eric C. Heins issued this statement today following the Trump Administration’s revocation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which protects from deportation approximately 800,000 young people who were brought to the United States as children—200,000 of whom are here in California.

“Today’s calculated action by President Donald Trump and his administration threatens the futures of nearly a million young Dreamers and places them at risk of deportation from the only country most of them have ever truly known as home. This is an outrageous breach of faith and a broken promise to these young people who applied for DACA protection and who have met the education and/or military service requirements. It threatens to break up families, ruin lives, and is a betrayal not only to the affected young people and their loved ones, but to the very core values we share as a nation.

“California educators understand from first-hand experience what DACA has meant for the security and well-being of thousands of our students. DACA participants have graduated with distinction from our schools and many are in our classrooms today, having only recently begun the new school year with at least a glimmer of hope that their education and their dreams would not be shattered by a callous act such as the one taken this morning.

“The California Teachers Association states unequivocally that their struggle and our support does not end with today’s announcement. ALL Dreamers continue to be welcome in California classrooms and schools. Educators are mobilizing on behalf of their students, many joining protests in recent weeks and today, while others continue hosting workshops to help inform immigrant families of their rights. All educators will continue to make sure our classrooms are safe and supportive places for all students.

“We call on Congress to act now, not later, to protect these Dreamers and to resolve the chaos into which their lives have been suddenly thrown, by passing legislation with the urgency this situation and good conscience both demand.”

Resources are available to help: Create a safe zone for students, report incidents, speak up and share on social media, and to send a strong message to Congress.

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The 325,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association.