U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement after today’s announcement of President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy adopted by President Obama in 2012, which has brought relief from deportation for nearly 800,000 DACA students:

"DREAMers represent the best of America as they have built productive lives, attended school, are working and are committed to our great country. Ending DACA is a morally bankrupt decision by President Trump who again shows a lack of appreciation of real American values. President Trump's decision will have significant economic consequences for communities across the country as well,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “I plan to return to Congress today and press my colleagues to pass legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers. Republicans in Congress have blocked progress on the Dream Act for years but hopefully Speaker Ryan will allow the Congress to vote and we can convince enough Republicans to join united Democrats to support our DREAMers."

Over the past five years, DACA has provided deportation relief to nearly 800,000 students, including more than 32,000 in the state of Florida. These students know no other home because they were brought to this country at a young age and taxpayers have invested in them. A recent report shows that undoing DACA would place a staggering financial cost on businesses for numerous sectors of the economy, and harm Tampa Bay and other communities across the nation. In addition, the Center for American Progress estimates that $1.5 billion will be lost from Florida’s economy each year if workers no longer protected through DACA lose their jobs due to today’s announcement.

U.S. Rep. Castor recently held a Town Hall at Alonso High School in Tampa, Fla., where she awarded her American Dream Awards to a diverse and inspirational group of Tampa immigrants who reflect the values of America, having excelled in the fields of education, media, health care and business. Mi Familia Vota, an organization focused on engaging Latino communities on a number of issues including comprehensive immigration reform, and other community entities participated in this Town Hall.

"People of conscience will never forget this day,” said Esteban Garces, Florida State Director of Mi Familia Vota. “Our values were fundamentally betrayed by President Trump and today 30,000 young adults with DACA in Florida have had their dreams shattered.”

U.S. Rep. Castor is one of the Tampa Bay region’s most outspoken advocates when it comes to comprehensive immigration reform. She is a cosponsor of the American Hope Act, which would provide a pathway to legal permanent residency for those who arrived to the United States before their 18^th birthday and before Dec. 31, 2016. U.S. Rep. Castor has introduced an amendment to the House Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill that Congress is scheduled to be taken up this week that would prevent federal funds to be used to undo DACA in court. She has also cosponsored legislation to stop Pres. Trump’s travel ban, to clear the way for people detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to gain access to an attorney and to prevent the federal government from denying someone access to the United States based solely on their religious beliefs.

Over the years, U.S. Rep. Castor has united Tampa Bay behind the Senate-passed legislation for comprehensive immigration reform. This year and in past years, U.S. Rep. Castor has held town halls, public meetings and roundtables focused on immigration and protecting DREAMers, where she brought together legal experts and community resources, and hundreds came out to learn and support the success of these students.