Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar issued the following statement, reaffirming his commitment to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on the 5^th anniversary of its implementation. DACA has shielded over 700,000 young people, commonly referred to as Dreamers, from deportation.

“DACA isn’t just a policy – it is a promise that if you work hard, go to school, pay taxes and follow the rules, you’ll have a fair shot at success in the only country you’ve ever known. For five years, this program has protected thousands of young people in the Inland Empire who were brought here as kids, through no fault of their own, and has allowed them to stay in the only place they have ever called home. As we work toward fixing our broken immigration system, we must protect those we promised a future to,” said Rep. Aguilar. He added, “Safeguarding DACA and keeping families together isn’t a conversation about politics; it’s a matter of heart.”

Former President Barack Obama created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2012 through an executive order. DACA allows individuals who entered the United States as children without legal authorization to access temporary work permits and shields them from deportation unless an individual has a criminal record. Rep. Aguilar has been a steadfast supporter of DACA and an advocate for comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. Since taking office in 2015, Rep. Aguilar has established an Immigration Advisory Board, held a town hall and networking event for San Bernardino County Dreamers, and he recently passed an amendment that was added to an appropriations bill that would allow Dreamers to be eligible for federal employment.