United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez issued the following statement from the union’s Keene, Calif. headquarters after President Trump rescinded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
President Trump has left 800,000 lives in limbo by rescinding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). We condemn this appalling and counterproductive action. Donald Trump is scapegoating immigrants who were already vetted by the federal government and who are not a threat to our country. Trump taking DACA away from Dreamers so that he can try to deport them is heartless and immoral.
Many Dreamers are farm workers who feed this nation or their sons and daughters. They are also doctors, lawyers, researchers, students—all of them supporting America. This is the only home most of them have known.
Although this decision is a hard blow to beliefs and values we share as a country, we will continue standing up for and protecting immigrant families. This fight is far from over. As Cesar Chavez said, “We only lose when we stop fighting.” We encourage members of our community to attend one of the UFW Foundation’s information sessions that will take place across California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington state. La Union Del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), a sister organization within the farm worker movement, is sponsoring similar events in Texas. All events are listed on www.sisepuede.org
The UFW Foundation will continue helping families become citizens, register voters and invite everyone regardless of immigration status to participate in civic affairs. The UFW Foundation will be hosting a mega naturalization workshop on Sept. 9 in Bakersfield. We will continue organizing and growing this movement.