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Costa Calls Again for Bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform

June 16, 2017

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) issued the following statement after the Trump administration announced on June 15th that it will continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and end the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program, two immigration programs instituted under the Obama administration:

"Although I am pleased to hear that DACA will continue, revoking DAPA is unacceptable and a setback to our immigrant families in the Valley and across the United States. At the crux of both DACA and DAPA is keeping families together, which is absolutely crucial for the well-being of our children, our communities, and our nation. Splitting families apart when we can keep them together is immoral and unjust. Terminating DAPA leaves immigrant families even more vulnerable to this injustice, as DAPA, if implemented, could have allowed parents of American citizens and legal permanent residents to legally live and work in the United States.

"As I have been saying for years, America's immigration system is broken, and we must fix it. However, what the Administration's decision to continue DACA and end DAPA also shows us is that the uncertainty surrounding America's immigration policy is simply outrageous. Our immigrant families should not live in fear of being ripped apart because we cannot pass comprehensive immigration reform. We must come together to enact bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform that protects both our citizens and our immigrant communities."

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