Mayor Murray statement on Trump administration’s plan to end DACA

Mayor Ed Murray issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

 “President Trump’s elimination of DACA is a reprehensible and heartless act by a president who has repeatedly attacked immigrants. His action could rip apart families and will certainly instill fear in millions, including hundreds of thousands of people who came to the U.S. as children and are students in our schools, coworkers and members of our communities. Ending DACA increases the fear many have already been feeling since Trump took over, that they may return home to find a family member detained or authorities waiting for them. 

 “The City of Seattle will continue to lead in protecting immigrants and refugees. Our Legal Defense Fund for Immigrants and Refugees will help ensure that people who are detained will have access to legal assistance. Our Welcoming City policies will continue to ensure that no City employee or police officer will ask you for your citizenship status and that all City services are available to you regardless of your status. The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and other City departments remain united in supporting our immigrant and refugee communities.

 “Despite the chaos at the federal level, I remain hopeful, because I know that Seattle is a hopeful city that values protecting our most vulnerable residents. I hope that federal legislators use this opportunity to pass a more progressive DREAM Act, one that extends citizenship to Dreamers without being tied to a border wall and that also extends citizenship to the parents of Dreamers. President Trump’s continued attempts to divide our country based on who we are and where we are from will not succeed, nor will they go unanswered.”