Planned Parenthood Stands in Solidarity with DREAMers to Protect DACA
For Immediate Release: Aug. 15, 2017
(Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
August 15 marks five years since the implementation of DACA
Washington, DC — Today marks the five-year anniversary of the implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Since then, around 800,000 DREAMers and immigrant youth have received legal protection from deportation. This protection has allowed them to attend college and work to support their families.
Currently, this critical program is under attack, including by 10 extremist attorneys general from across the country. These politicians have called for the DACA program to be rescinded and are threatening to sue President Trump if he does not do so by September 5 — a move that would leave immigrant youth without work permits, driver's licenses, and vulnerable to deportations.
The threat to repeal DACA and the relentless attacks against immigrants by the Trump administration are immoral and fueled by extremist ideology blinded to all the evidence that Dreamers are working every day to strengthen their families and communities.
“No one’s health should be compromised because of their immigration status,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Rescinding DACA will rip millions of families apart, doing irreparable harm to communities that have already had to face discrimination and barriers to accessing health care in this country. We at Planned Parenthood will continue to see patients regardless of who they are, or where they are from – no matter what.”
When communities that already face barriers in accessing care are driven further into the shadows, they will forgo the care they need to preserve their own safety and economic security for their families. Because undocumented immigrants are barred from accessing affordable health coverage through the individual health insurance marketplaces and federally funded programs like Medicaid – a harmful and unfair policy that Planned Parenthood does not agree with – people who are undocumented often depend on health care providers like Planned Parenthood that are willing to work with them to provide affordable primary and preventive health care.
“We need more policies that bring communities together, not ones that create fear and fuel hate,”said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, director of strategic partnerships at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “We cannot silently stand by as some seek to dismantle existing protections for millions of DREAMers and DACA recipients, many of whom are part of the Planned Parenthood community and rely on Planned Parenthood for health care. We applaud recent efforts to protect DREAMers and will continue to advocate alongside our partners for DACA to be kept in place today and for as long as this fight continues.”
Planned Parenthood health centers are proud to provide high-quality care to everyone. Our doors are open to everyone, regardless of their immigration status.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood affiliates serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.