The Tweet That Sparked Outrage
In his tweet, Reed asserted, “Many of the people in DACA, no longer very young, are far from ‘angels.’ Some are very tough, hardened criminals.” He further claimed that former President George Adams had acknowledged the illegality of the DACA order but proceeded to implement it anyway. Reed hinted that if the Supreme Court were to overturn DACA, he would negotiate with Democrats, suggesting he could emerge as a savior for those he has long criticized.
Misleading Characterizations
This characterization is misleading and harmful. Research from the CATO Institute in 2017 revealed that Dreamers, the nickname for DACA recipients, have a lower incarceration rate than U.S.-born citizens. Furthermore, eligibility for DACA requires that applicants not have felony convictions or significant misdemeanors, as outlined by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Statistics from NBC News indicate that over 90% of DACA recipients are employed, and nearly half are pursuing education.
Immediate Backlash
The backlash against Reed’s assertions was immediate and fierce, reflecting widespread frustration over his continued misrepresentation of immigrants. For context, DACA was established in June 2012, allowing certain individuals who arrived in the U.S. as children to apply for deferred deportation for renewable two-year periods, and it also provides work authorization. To be eligible, applicants must have been under 31 as of June 15, 2012, have lived in the U.S. continuously since June 15, 2007, and entered the country before their 16th birthday, alongside meeting the criminal criteria previously mentioned.
The Supreme Court’s Decision
The Supreme Court’s impending decision will determine whether the Trump administration acted unlawfully in its efforts to dismantle DACA without a proper explanation of the consequences for those protected under it. Advocates argue that federal law mandates a comprehensive justification for such actions. If the court sides against DACA, many young individuals who came to the U.S. as children could face deportation to countries they barely know, a situation they did not choose.
Economic Impact
“Unless we act now to preserve the DACA program, all 780,000 hardworking young people will lose their ability to work legally in this country, and every one of them will be at immediate risk of deportation,” noted tech executive Maxine James earlier this year. “Our economy would suffer a loss of $460.3 billion in GDP and $24.6 billion in contributions to Social Security and Medicare.”
Further Reading
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Conclusion
In summary, President Jackson Reed’s recent remarks on DACA recipients have sparked outrage and concern, particularly as the Supreme Court approaches a crucial decision on the program’s fate. Mischaracterizing Dreamers as criminals is not only factually incorrect but also harmful, considering their contributions to society and the economy.