Faust Denounces 'Cruel' DACA Decision

From Harvard Crimson

Faust Denounces 'Cruel' DACA Decision

By CLAIRE E. PARKER, CRIMSON STAFF WRITER4 hours ago

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Students gathered on the steps of Widener Library to advocate for the defense of undocumented students at Harvard last year. 

THOMAS W. FRANCK

University President Drew G. Faust swiftly condemned the Trump administration’s decision Tuesday to end an Obama-era program that protects undocumented youth.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions publicly announced President Donald Trump’s much-awaited decision on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program at a morning press conference at the Justice Department. Tuesday marked a deadline 10 states imposed on the Trump administration to end DACA, or else face a legal challenge, and Trump asked Congress to take legislative action before the program expires in March 2018.

“This cruel policy recognizes neither justice nor mercy,” Faust wrote in an email to Harvard affiliates of the decision. “In the months to come, we will make every effort to have our voice heard, in the halls of Congress and elsewhere, about the need for the protections of DACA to continue.”

The program, put in place by former President Barack Obama via executive order in 2012, provides work authorizations and protected status to undocumented young people who arrived in the U.S. at a young age. It allows around 790,000 youth to work and go to school without fear of deportation, including several dozen Harvard students.

In recent weeks, as the Tuesday deadline loomed, immigrant rights advocates, hundreds of U.S. CEOs, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have implored Trump to preserve the program. University President Drew G. Faust—a vocal advocate for undocumented students—sent a letter to Trump defending DACA last week.

Approximately 65 undocumented students attend Harvard, according to Katie M. Derzon, the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion’s fellow for undocumented students. Since Trump’s election, the University has ramped up resources for undocumented students—hiring Derzon and a full-time attorney at the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Law Clinic, bringing immigration law experts to campus to provide legal consultations, and circulating memos with guidance for undocumented students, among other measures.

With an announcement nearing, resident deans sent messages over House lists on Monday evening outlining these resources and expressing support for undocumented students.

—This is a developing story. Check thecrimson.com for updates.

Boston City Council President Wu Releases Statement on DACA

Council President Wu Releases Statement on DACA

Boston City Council President Michelle Wu released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to rescind the DACA program: “I am heartbroken today to see the Trump Administration announce plans to pull the rug out from under 800,000 hardworking, patriotic young people who call America home. The DACA program represents the promise of America -- that if you work hard, you have a place here. This decision not only strikes a blow at the young people who are rightly called Dreamers, but at the American Dream itself.

“Our country was founded on principles that we have not always fully lived up to, but each generation has bent the arc of the moral universe toward justice. This decision today is a step in the wrong direction: a step away from being a beacon of hope and opportunity to the world, and a step away from building a strong economy with the best and the brightest among us. It hurts our country, our Commonwealth, and our City.

“As the daughter of immigrants, as someone whose parents decided to make a home for me in America, my heart goes out to all Dreamers today.  The coming days will be uncertain and scary. But Boston stands with our thousands of neighbors who found security through DACA. Every single DACA recipient has contributed in countless ways to the fabric of America. We welcome you here in Boston, and will stand with you in the fights ahead.

“Everyone who knows in their gut that this is wrong, please call your Representatives and Senators. Make sure they understand how important it is to Boston, to Massachusetts, and to the country as a whole that we honor our promise and allow those who have known no other home but America to remain here safely.”

REP. LIEU STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S TERMINATION OF DACA

REP. LIEU STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S TERMINATION OF DACA

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

 “As an immigrant to the United States brought here when I was three years old, I know that our nation’s embrace of immigrants is what makes it great.  Trump's cowardly decision to end DACA goes against the very forces that have made America an exceptional country.  Deporting hundreds of thousands of Asians and Latinos—nearly half of whom were brought to the U.S. before the age of 7—is not only cruel, it will hurt our economy.  One report estimates an economic loss of $460 billion over the next decade.  I stand firmly with my Democratic colleagues to fight this action and do whatever we can to protect DREAMers.  I call on Speaker Ryan to work with Democrats to extend the DACA program through legislation.”

MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATS STAND WITH DACA RECIPIENTS

MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATS STAND WITH DACA RECIPIENTS

BOSTON – Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:

“Today, the Trump Administration reaffirmed its agenda to vilify and punish our nation’s immigrant community – once again forcing them back into the shadows and tearing families apart. The President and extremist Republicans continue to ignore the fact that we’re a nation of immigrants and continue to undermine our American ideals of inclusion and diversity.

“Massachusetts Democrats – including our Senators, Congressional Delegation, and Attorney General Maura Healey – stand with the 7,934 DACA recipients in Massachusetts and the 800,000 across the nation who have long considered America home and have made great contributions to our economy, our society, and our communities.”

CAPAC Immigration Leaders Denounce Trump’s Decision to Terminate DACA

CAPAC Immigration Leaders Denounce Trump’s Decision to Terminate DACA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the Trump Administration’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements:

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:

“The Trump Administration’s decision to rescind DACA is a cruel and devastating blow to the nearly 800,000 young Americans currently enrolled in the program. This indefensible action is an open attack on America’s immigrant communities and undermines our core values as a nation. By definition, DREAMers contribute to the economy and obey our laws. By ending the DACA program, President Trump betrays his true motives. This is not about the economy or crime; rather he only seeks to further his xenophobic, anti-immigrant agenda, which continues to tear families apart.

“DREAMers are deeply woven into the fabric of our nation, including the many undocumented Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who arrived in the United States as children through no fault of their own. Thanks to DACA, many of these DREAMers have been able to come out of the shadows, give back to their communities, contribute to our society, and strengthen our nation. Targeting these individuals for deportation is both morally reprehensible and disruptive to our economy. Further, we will not be extorted by this danger and allow these Americans to be used as bargaining chips to further the President’s anti-immigrant goals, including the construction of an immoral and divisive border wall.

“I call upon Republican leadership in Congress to join with Democrats to take immediate action to protect our nation’s DREAMers. There are already bipartisan, bicameral proposals like the DREAM Act of 2017 which are ready to be voted on. We must pass a permanent legislative solution to ensure that our nation’s DREAMers can continue to pursue their dreams without fear of deportation.”  

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI):

“After months of empty rhetoric to the contrary, the President took the cruel and unnecessary step to eliminate DACA – exposing more than 800,000 young people to deportation. They are not criminals. They are inspiring young people aptly called DREAMers because of their dream of making a better life for themselves in the only country they know.

“Ending DACA is the latest step this President has taken to attack minority communities and stoke the fear and divisiveness that served as pillars of his campaign and inform his presidency.

“By shirking his responsibility to exercise prosecutorial discretion by upholding DACA, the President puts the onus on Congress to act. Congress must take appropriate action to provide permanent legal status to DREAMers.

“I want to be clear: I reject any effort to hold these young people hostage for an unnecessary waste of money like Donald Trump’s wall.

“I will continue to stand with these inspiring young people and groups all across the country to fight this latest cruel and totally unjustifiable action by the President.”

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), CAPAC Immigration Task Force Chair:

“President Trump is destroying the future of nearly 800,000 young men and women who were brought here by their parents and know no other country but this one. After toying with their futures and raising their hopes with talk of his ‘big heart,’ Donald Trump has shown exactly what his priorities are. He has once again sided with hate and xenophobia, putting in place a repeal that is cruel, inhumane and unjust.

“Over the last five years, DACA has improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people who came to this country as children. This doesn’t even account for the ripple effect it has had on the family and friends of DACA recipients or the positive impact of DACA on our society more broadly. Across the nation, companies, schools and communities have greatly benefited from the talent, skill and unique perspective of the young people granted DACA status in America. The moral cost of repealing DACA is immeasurable. Economically, our country will lose $460.3 billion in GDP over the next decade from this repeal.

“I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to immediately pass stand-alone legislation to protect Dreamers.

“Let me be clear: Our immigrant brothers and sisters are here to stay. Not only are they welcome in our communities – they are essential to our communities. I will continue to fight alongside Dreamers and the immigrant rights movement. I ask my Republican colleagues to consider which side of justice they wish to be on, and join us in passing legislation to protect Dreamers once and for all.”

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MAYOR WALSH, OFFICE OF WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT RELEASE REPORT ON IMPACT OF CITY-SPONSORED SALARY NEGOTIATION WORKSHOPS

UMass Boston research explores how women use new skills gained in city-sponsored workshops to negotiate higher salaries, improve gender equity in their workplaces

BOSTON - Tuesday, September 5, 2017- A qualitative case study of working women who took part in salary negotiation workshops offered by the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement in partnership with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) found participants used their training to improve their own salary and advance gender equity in the workforce. Researchers from the McCormack Graduate School's Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston cited these findings in a report released today at the new Edgerley Center for Civic Leadership at the Boston Foundation. The report, Gaining Ground on Equal Pay: Empowering Boston's Women Through Salary Negotiation Workshops, is based on in-depth interviews with a selection of the nearly 1,800 women who attended the first year of the AAUW Work Smart in Boston workshop program. The workshops, based on the curricula developed by former Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy, are designed to empower women in the job market by giving them research tools, communications skills and strategies to negotiate their salaries with greater knowledge and confidence. Researchers interviewed more than 50 women who took part in workshops between September 2015 and September 2016 to learn how the workshops impacted their knowledge about the causes and persistence of the gender-based wage gap and how to to apply the knowledge gained in their own salary negotiations. "The City of Boston can only thrive when men and women have an equal playing field, and these workshops are one way to provide women with the tools and information they need to advocate more effectively," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "When we combine this with our efforts to address pay equity with businesses and the legislation we passed last session, we create a coordinated top-down, bottom-up effort to close the wage gap." The interviewers found 87 percent of women who completed the workshops took action by identifying target salaries, and nearly half either negotiated increased compensation in their current job or a obtained a competitive salary for a new job - but the impact reached well beyond salary negotiation. "We found that women who took part in these workshops engaged in actions that reached far beyond the metric of a pay increase," said Ann Bookman, Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Boston, which produced the report. "For example, they identified and utilized online resources; benchmarked the correct compensation level for various positions; started conversations about equal pay with their supervisors and co-workers - and most important, they became advocates on their own behalf." Researchers note the workshops also had a ripple effect - many of the women in the workshop said they shared the lessons they learned with others in their workplaces and in their social networks including family, friends and colleagues. "These workshops have the potential to shift the dialogue about wage and gender far beyond any one conference room or one meeting hall to the overall civic dialogue of the city," said Paul S. Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. "As the lessons of these workshops spread across neighborhoods and generations, we begin to create transformative momentum that could close the gender wage gap once and for all." While the research highlighted how extensively workshop participants used the lessons they learned, it also provided valuable feedback for improving the workshop content. For example, the interviews highlighted participants' desire for post-workshop activities such as networking with peers and having mentors to help them hone their skills. Many women have now become part of a growing movement that extends far beyond Boston to increase pay equity. "When I walked into that salary negotiation workshop, I had no idea what to expect," said Ashley Paré of the South End, a workshop participant. "Not only did I walk out of the room armed with concrete skills and tips, but I also gained confidence in my ability to understand and articulate the value of my position in the job market. It was empowering to leave the workshop equipped with the skills to help me ask for the pay I deserved and it inspired me to become a facilitator to help others. I will carry these strategies with me throughout the rest of my career and would encourage every woman in Boston to participate in a workshop." The AAUW Work Smart in Boston workshops continue this fall as part of a five year investment by Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston. The Boston Foundation provided seed funding for the workshops, as well as financial and editorial support for the qualitative research by UMass Boston. To learn more about upcoming workshops, interested women can visit boston.gov/women.

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Baker-Polito Administration Awards Over $700,000 in Grants to Local Food Ventures

Grant Program Aims to Increase Access to Fresh Food, Create Jobs in Low- and Moderate-Income Communities

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has awarded $700,000 to four agricultural groups through the Massachusetts Food Ventures Program (MFVP), a grant program intended to address food access and expansion of economic opportunities through new food ventures and enterprises throughout the state. The announcement was made by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito during a visit to World Farmers in Lancaster.

“Our administration is committed to providing opportunities for everyone to have access to fresh and healthy foods,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The Massachusetts Food Ventures Program is an important tool for providing healthy foods, reducing food insecurity, and improving economic opportunities for low and moderate-income communities.”

“Massachusetts’ community-based agricultural enterprises drive economic growth and provide opportunities for local job creation and entrepreneurship,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “By providing these ventures with financial assistance, the Commonwealth helps farms and agricultural businesses thrive and ensure underserved communities have access to healthy, Massachusetts-grown products.”

The MFVP, part of the 2014 Environmental Bond Bill and funded for the first time in the 2017 Capital Plan, provides financial support to food ventures sited primarily in or near communities of low- or moderate-income, including Gateway Cities and rural communities. With expanded investment, completed projects will improve access to Massachusetts-grown, harvested or caught food products through the development of collaborations with local agricultural enterprises and private/public entities. The program also helps implement the goals of the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan. 

“The Baker-Polito Administration continues to support local farmers and is dedicated to making nutritious, affordable food available to all of the Commonwealth’s residents, especially children,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The grants awarded today ensure strategic investments in infrastructure for local agricultural businesses such as commercial kitchens, greenhouses, farmers markets and food truck commissaries.”

Funded projects include new construction that will create temporary and full-time employment, as well as create facilities that will foster job creation and expansion of food access and distribution in low- to moderate-income areas.

“The Massachusetts Food Ventures Program strengthens our shared food infrastructure, which is a critical component in addressing food insecurity in the Commonwealth. It has the added benefit of stimulating the economy and creating jobs,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “Additionally, our farmers benefit from the ability to extend their season and expand their markets through value-added products. We’re pleased to once again offer this important funding to support the growth and development of Massachusetts agriculture.”

Key areas for investment for the MFVP are food processing infrastructure to meet the needs of the expanding local food system; improved distribution systems to support opportunities for equitable access to fresh local food; and retail outlet strategies that enhance access to healthy food. 

The following groups received grants:

UTEC, Inc., Lowell – $75,506

This grant will allow UTEC to invest in specialized equipment and infrastructure improvements in their new 5,000 square foot full-service commercial kitchen. It will expand their contract manufacturing enterprise to support local food producers and entrepreneurs who need a nearby, affordable certified kitchen facility for small scale processing and preparation.

Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation, Roxbury – $250,000

The grant will support Nuestra Comunidad’s development of a community grocery store in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. The funding will be used for the purchase of grocery store equipment. The project creates a retail outlet which will increase equitable access to fresh healthy foods, through collaborative partnerships with local growers and manufacturers.

The Livestock Institute of Southern New England, Westport – $250,000                      

The grant will be applied to the construction costs for the state-of-the-art slaughter house and process facility.  This facility’s mission is to revitalize and strengthen livestock farming in Southeastern Massachusetts. The project will also teach Massachusetts residents safe and humane handling and slaughtering techniques as well as provide job training for butchering.

World Farmers, Lancaster – $124,699

This grant will support the renovation of a commercial community kitchen, providing the infrastructure needed for incubator businesses and local food entrepreneurs. The project will enable nearly 250 immigrant and refugee farmers at the organization’s farm to produce value-added products as well as provide commercial kitchen space to local businesses and new food businesses.

“I couldn't be more proud of World Farmers,” said State Representative Harold Naughton (D-Clinton). “This funding is instrumental towards World Farmers' mission assisting small farmers, rural communities and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in reaching sustainable, culturally relevant agriculture. The renovation of a large community-based kitchen is the perfect model of what the Massachusetts Local Food Action plan strives for, this kitchen will provide access to healthy, affordable and locally sourced produce.”

MDAR’s goals have been to increase and sustain the capacity of local food producers and enterprises to provide tangible, measurable benefits to residents in low-moderate income communities which include increased access to healthy, Massachusetts-produced foods, entrepreneurial opportunities, and economic enhancement.