THE DREAM ACT: TALKING POINTS FOR PEOPLE OF FAITH
Summary of the Bill: Introduced by Senators Graham and Durbin, the bipartisan Dream Act would allow young people who have lived in America since they were children to earn lawful status and eventually American citizenship. Applicants would have to show that they are longtime U.S. residents who came here as children; they have graduated from high school or obtained a GED; they are pursuing higher education, have worked lawfully for at least three years, or have served at least two years in the military; and they have not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country. They would be required to pass a background check, pay a fee, and fulfill English language and civics requirements. Faith Principles: As people of faith, we believe in protecting the dignity of every human being, especially that of our children. Among those protected by this bill are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, a program that has benefitted over 780,000 young people. Many DACA recipients are young adults, who entered the US as children and consider America as home. Many are raising their own children here. Our faiths compel us to be on the right side of history and support a compassionate solution for these young people. Economic Arguments: As people of faith, we are devoted to our communities and our nation. A study by the Center for American Progress, CAP estimates that ending DACA would result in a loss of $460.3 billion from the national GDP over the next decade. Thousands of young people would be forced out of the workforce, disrupting businesses, hurting local economies and reducing tax revenue. In South Carolina, CAP reports the number of DACA recipients at 6,406, the estimated number of DACA workers at 5,573 and the estimated annual GDP loss from removing DACA workers at $252,065,985. Suggested Actions: Call Senator Graham at 202-224-5972, and leave him a brief message thanking him for cosponsoring this bill. He needs to be able to tell other Republican legislators how much support he is getting from both sides of the aisle. Then, call Senator Scott at 202-224-6121, and add to the above talking points your heartfelt reason for calling. Maybe you have a personal story to share. Even better, follow these calls with personal letters. Some say handwritten notes are best. Then, consider the SC United with Immigrants coalition. We could use your support! Find us on the web at www.sc-united.org. |
What's New?This blog is for updates about SCIII projects, events and resources. Archives
November 2018
Categories |