LANSING — Today, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, speaking on behalf of President Donald Trump, announced that the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program would be rescinded. In response, state Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) issued the following statement:

“I am heartbroken and deeply disappointed by President Trump’s decision today to end DACA. Even with a so-called ‘orderly wind-down’ I know this decision will have a devastating impact on families in my district. One of our nation’s core values is opportunity – it is what brought immigrant families, including mine, here to America, and what youth who have benefited from the DACA program absolutely deserve. These young people came here as children because of decisions their parents made, they passed criminal background checks, and are pursuing higher education or employment. Because of DACA, more than 6,000 young people in Michigan have been able to access basic necessities and have become further integrated into American society.

“Ending DACA without a guarantee of Congressional action means that these nurses, teachers, engineers, students, first responders, members of the military and others could be ripped out of our communities and forced back into the shadows, facing at best an uncertain future, and at worst deportation to countries they do not know. This is not just backward policy that will harm our economy, but an inhumane action that jeopardizes the security of families across the country and the promise of opportunity for all our young people. It is now clearer than ever – Members of Congress from both parties need to step up and pass legislation to protect the status of current and future DACA youth.”