Trump is Wrong on DACA. We will Not Retreat.

We affirm the rights of all working people to remain and thrive in the locations of their choosing, but also recognize that the forces of capitalism - economic policies, military intervention, and climate change - increasingly force people to leave their homes and relocate in order to survive. And we reaffirm our commitment to the struggles of undocumented immigrants in this country, demanding their labor rights as workers and human rights as people.

DSA Immigrants’ Rights Committee Democratic Left Blog
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Young immigrants and supporters walk holding signs during a rally in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in Los Angeles, California on September 1, 2017,Frederick J. Brown / AFP / Getty Images

President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, under pressure from a nine-state coalition led by the Texas Attorney General, represents another racist attack by his administration on immigrants, in this case on young people who were brought into the United States as children.  The undersigned members of the Democratic Socialists of America denounce the repeal of DACA and maintain solidarity with the nearly one million DACA recipients who will become targets for harassment and deportation by ICE.

We know DACA is insufficient. We remain committed to fighting alongside undocumented immigrants ineligible for DACA: those who have felony convictions, those without access to higher education, and those who immigrated as adults.  We reject the notion that immigrants should have to earn basic human rights and decent treatment by serving in the armed forces, getting a higher education, or being productive workers. DACA itself represents that kind of thinking turned into policy. The moral division between “deserving” and “undeserving” immigrants ignores the role of policing and the criminal justice system in criminalizing undocumented immigrants. Instead, we recognize the dignity and human rights of all immigrants and demand dignified and humane treatment of all people, regardless of how productive they are for the capitalist ruling class.

As socialists, we recognize the rights of the international working class to live without fear of persecution and repression by governments and bosses. The conditions that cause much of 21st-century immigration are symptoms of capitalist-driven global imperialism, driven in large part by the United States. We affirm the rights of all working people to remain and thrive in the locations of their choosing, but also recognize that the forces of capitalism - economic policies, military intervention, and climate change - increasingly force people to leave their homes and relocate in order to survive.

We reaffirm our commitment to the struggles of undocumented immigrants in this country, demanding their labor rights as workers and human rights as people. We are dedicated to building sanctuary spaces in our communities and demanding the implementation of Sanctuary policies on the city and state level throughout the country. As socialists, we recognize that migration is a human right and commit ourselves to working for full citizenship for all people and their right to organizing in the workplace.

We are committed to fighting the deep injustices within the criminal justice and immigration systems and demand comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes the rights and humanity of all working people, regardless of citizenship.

Liberation not deportation! 

ESPAÑOL:

La decisión del presidente Donald Trump al terminar el programa Consideración de Acción Diferida (DACA), bajo la presión de una coalición de nueve estados, liderada por el fiscal general de Texas, representa otro ataque vicioso y racista por su administración contra los inmigrantes, en este caso contra los jóvenes quienes llegaron a los Estados Unidos cuando eran niños. Los firmantes de este documento, militantes de los Socialistas Democráticos de América, denuncian la derogación de DACA y mantienen la solidaridad con los casi millón beneficiarios de DACA que serán acosados y en peligro de la deportación por parte de ICE.

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Sabemos que DACA no es suficiente. Seguimos comprometidos a luchar junto a los inmigrantes indocumentados no elegibles para DACA, los que tienen convicciones criminales, los que no tienen acceso a la educación superior, y los que inmigraron como adultos. Rechazamos la idea de que los inmigrantes tengan que ganarse los derechos humanos básicos y tratamiento decente sirviendo en las fuerzas armadas, obteniendo una educación superior, o ser trabajadores productivos, y la DACA misma representa ese tipo de pensamiento convertido en política. La división moral entre inmigrantes "merecedores" e "inmerecidos" ignora el papel de la policía y el sistema de justicia penal en la criminalización de gente pobre de color. En cambio, reconocemos la dignidad y los derechos humanos de todos los inmigrantes y exigimos un trato digno y humano de todas las personas, independientemente de su productividad para la clase dominante capitalista.

Como socialistas, reconocemos los derechos de la clase obrera internacional a vivir sin temor a la persecución y la represión de los gobiernos y patrones. Las condiciones que causan gran parte de la inmigración del siglo XXI son síntomas del imperialismo global impulsado por el capitalismo, impulsado en gran parte por Estados Unidos. Afirmamos los derechos de todos los trabajadores a permanecer y prosperar en el lugar de su elección, pero también reconocemos que las fuerzas de capitalismo -políticas económicas, intervención militar y cambio climático- obligan cada vez más a las personas a abandonar sus hogares y a trasladarse para sobrevivir.

Reafirmamos nuestro compromiso con las luchas de los inmigrantes indocumentados en este país, exigiendo sus derechos laborales como trabajadores y derechos humanos como personas. Estamos dedicados a construir espacios santuarios en nuestras comunidades y exigir la implementación de políticas de santuario a nivel municipal y estatal en todo el país. Como socialistas, reconocemos que la migración es un derecho humano y nos comprometemos a trabajar por una ciudadanía plena para todas las personas y su derecho a organizarse en el lugar de trabajo.

Estamos comprometidos a combatir las injusticias profundas dentro de los sistemas de justicia penal y de inmigración y exigir una reforma migratoria integral que reconozca los derechos y la humanidad de todos los trabajadores, independientemente de la ciudadanía.

 ¡Liberación, no deportación!

To sign this statement, fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/Vi3xl0W7Gqh6K9hi2

For any questions or media requests, please email immigrant.justice@socialists.nyc

Signed

Zachary Valdes - NYC DSA Immigration Justice Working Group

Elijah Stevens - NYC DSA Immigration Justice Working Group

Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò - Los Angeles Sanctuary City Working Group

Jack Suria Linares - Los Angeles Sanctuary City Working Group

Duane Campbell - Immigrants’ Rights Committee, Co- Chair

Austin Gonzalez - Richmond VA DSA, Chair

Jeff Kleiman - Nassau County DSA

Jamie Pagirsky - Nassau County DSA

Gillian Talwar - Detroit DSA Anti-Racism Working Group, Co-chair,

Dan Burton - NYC DSA Immigration Justice Working Group

Sherry Baron - NYC DSA Immigration Justice Working Group

Dan La Botz - NYC DSA Immigration Justice Working Group

Cori Madrid - Hudson Valley DSA, Chair

Milt Tambor - Metro Atlanta DSA, Chair

Jeb Boone - Metro Atlanta DSA

Brad Voracek - Phoenix DSA

Dustin Reyes - NYC DSA Immigration Justice Working Group

Mark D'Arensbourg - New Orleans DSA, Councilmember-At-Large

Rebecca Mataloni - Central IA DSA

Suzanne Cornell - NYC DSA

Mark Linn - Birmingham DSA

Tyson Woolman - Houston DSA

Samuel Sutton - Phoenix DSA

Brad Voracek - Phoenix DSA

Laura Schonberger - Phoenix DSA

Benjamin Fong - Phoenix DSA, Secretary

Bob Clark - Phoenix DSA

Jake Bell - Phoenix DSA