To The Editor,
This week, Congress voted on an important issue that will have serious implications for all Americans: tax reform. Headlines on the pros and cons of the GOP tax plan abounded, and the issue was top of mind for many of us across the nation.
Yet the same cannot be said for the hundreds of thousands of DREAMers whose lives and futures are still on the line after President Trump ended the DACA program. Their plight is known and understood, and while a permanent solution garnered support from most Americans, both Democrat and Republican, our lawmakers continue to brush it off. Despite the overwhelming support of a solution for our nation’s DREAMers, Congress seems intent on delaying action on this issue once again.
This issue cannot wait, and Congress must act before the end of the year. Thousands of DREAMers, an estimated 11,000, have already started losing their jobs and protected status, and the number will only grow. This will not only have long-term consequences for our workforce and economy—but in the immediate, will upend the lives of millions of families who have proudly called this country home. In southern Chester County, it will affect many, many hard-working families whose contributions help our entire region to thrive.
To deny our DREAMers a shot at fulfilling their American Dream runs counter to the fundamental values and principles our nation celebrates. Protecting those principles is just as critical as our taxes. I hope we can turn our attention to our young DREAMers, and insist that our elected officials do the same.
Ronan W. Gannon
Board Chair
La Comunidad Hispana (LCH),
Kennett Square PA
