Planned Parenthood to White House: Protect Immigrant Youth and Defend DACA
For Immediate Release: Aug. 25, 2017
Washington, DC — Amidst reports that President Donald Trump is considering rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and leaving 800,000 DREAMers and immigrant youth without legal protection from deportation, Planned Parenthood Federation of America released the following statement:
“DACA has brought economic opportunity and a sense of security to immigrant youth who have grown up in this country. Many DACA recipients and DREAMers are part of the Planned Parenthood community and rely on Planned Parenthood for health care. Stripping away the legal protections they’ve been promised would threaten their families and their livelihoods, and place new obstacles in the path of their ability to freely and safely access health care,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, director of strategic partnerships at Planned Parenthood. “We strengthen our communities and our country by investing in our young people, not by denying them their chance at the American dream. Instead of bending to the will of dangerous and fear-fueled anti-immigrant ideology, we call on President Trump to stand up and protect the 800,000 DACA recipients who call America home.”
Ten extreme attorneys general from across the country are threatening to sue President Trump if he does not rescind the DACA program by September 5 — a move that could leave immigrant youth without work permits or driver's licenses, and would make them vulnerable to deportations. When communities that already face barriers in accessing health 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. That’s bad for their health and for the public health of their communities.
###
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.