New York, NY – The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) urges Congress and the President to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. President Trump has indicated that the Administration may terminate the program in the coming days, placing nearly 800,000 people at risk of deportation and separation from their families.

Since 2012, the DACA program has enabled eligible young people who came to this country as children to voluntarily come forward and pass background checks in exchange for permission to live and work in America without fear of deportation. Ending this protection is inhumane, separating families and would costing our national economy $460 billion over the next decade.

The Jewish community has a long history of active engagement in the struggles of new immigrants and in development of our nation’s immigration policy. JCPA strongly supports DACA and opposes any efforts to defund or terminate this important program.

Furthermore, we call on lawmakers to act immediately to protect immigrant youth by passing the “Dream Act of 2017,” bipartisan legislation that would replace fear and uncertainty with permanent protection. We are concerned that public frustration with the current failed immigration system is fueling racist and xenophobic views that blame immigrants for our nation’s problems. We cannot allow our immigration laws to become a tool for hate.

Share

Next Up:

Jewish Council for Public Affairs Opposes Ban on Transgender Military Service

Take Action Donate

August 27, 2025

JCPA Statement on Minneapolis School Shooting

August 26, 2025

JCPA Urges DHS to Waive Confusing and Concerning Language for Nonprofit Security Grant Program

August 25, 2025

The New York Times: In Trump’s Second Term, Far-Right Agenda Enters the Mainstream

August 20, 2025

Communications Intern

August 19, 2025

High Holy Days 5786

August 15, 2025

The Torah of Community Relations

August 13, 2025

High Holy Days 5786

August 13, 2025

Federalizing the DC Police: Manufactured Crises and the Erosion of Democratic Protections

August 8, 2025

Eight Years Since ‘Unite the Right’ Violence in Charlottesville: A Call to Confront the Normalization of Hate

August 5, 2025

JCPA: 2024 Hate Crimes Data Underscores Crisis of Hate and Extremism