Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Francisco leaders and DACA recipients call for Congressional action after federal announcement
Summary
Mayor Ed Lee, City leaders and DACA recipients held a City Hall gathering Sept. 5 to call for Congress to protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients after a federal announcement to rescind the program. City officials pledged local support, announced upcoming hearings and emphasized legal assistance and Know Your Rights workshops.
Mayoral leadership and immigrant-rights groups gathered at City Hall Sept. 5 to respond to the federal announcement rescinding DACA, calling on Congress to pass humane legislation and pledging local support for affected residents.
Mayor Ed Lee said San Francisco would press Congress for action and described DACA recipients as "diligent students, dedicated workers" who contribute to the city's economy and civic life. "We have to have that deadline honored," the mayor said, urging federal action and praising local partnerships.
The City introduced several speakers from immigrant-rights organizations. Celine Kennelly, chair of the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission, said the community's "hearts broke" at the news and announced public hearings to hear from DACA holders. She pointed attendees to local resources including Dream SF fellowships and upcoming immigration workshops.
Several DACA recipients told personal stories at the event. Diana described how DACA enabled her to graduate from UC Santa Cruz and build a career; Alicia said DACA allowed her to reconnect with family and to work with community organizations and that she would continue to organize and fight for legislative protections.
Community organizations said they would expand legal assistance and Know Your Rights efforts and urged Congress to act quickly to preserve the status of nearly 800,000 DACA recipients nationwide. The city scheduled local hearings and workshops to document experiences and to offer assistance.
Next steps: the Immigrant Rights Commission scheduled meetings to hear from DACA recipients and community groups and the Mayor's Office and partner nonprofits said they would expand application assistance and legal referrals for affected residents.
