Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20010
Dear Senator:
On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they serve, we would like to submit the following comments in connection with today’s hearing, “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy.”
The threat of mass deportations is already traumatizing students all across America. Many find it difficult—or impossible—to focus on their studies when consumed with fear of what the future holds for them and their families. Schools are places of learning, sensitive locations where immigration enforcement does not occur; that should remain the case.
We are also concerned about Dreamers—undocumented youth brought to the United States as children. Ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) would mean losing 17,000 educators, and hit major school districts in California, Texas, Illinois, New York, and Florida especially hard. More than 250,000 students would be impacted immediately—and ultimately, as many as 7 million students. Many of them would be plunged into poverty and have their access to healthcare narrowed or totally eliminated.
Mass deportations that tear families apart would cause anguish and grief that rend the fabric of our society. Instead, we urge policymakers to stabilize immigrant communities by supporting and passing the Dream Act of 2023 (S. 365), the American Dream and Promise Act of 2023 (H.R. 16), or similar legislation.
We thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments.
Sincerely,
Marc Egan
Director of Government Relations
