Rahm Gave Trump A Letter From Mayors Urging Support For DACA During Meeting

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Dec 7, 2016 4:51PM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented Donald Trump with a letter during his visit to see the President-elect Wednesday morning urging him not to cut the Federal DACA program which helps immigrant children.

The letter urges Trump to support DACA, also known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which protects children who come to the United States before they turn 16 and try to seek an education or join the military from the threat of deportation. Trump has vowed to deport families who are staying in the country illegally and many supporters believe this means he should repeal DACA, which President Barack Obama established in 2012 and protects over 700,000 people.

Emanuel reportedly discussed the importance of having sanctuary cities with Trump in a previous phone conversation.

The letter argues that DACA has received broad bi-partisan support, is good for the economy, and actually aids in national security.

"Ensuring DREAMers can continue to live and work in their communities without fear of deportation is the foundation of sound, responsible immigration policy," the letter says. Ending DACA would disrupt the lives of close to one million young people, and it would disrupt the sectors of the American economy, as well as our national security and public safety, to which they contribute."

The letter, signed by Emanuel, also lists some 14 U.S. mayors, including Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City, Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, and Mayor Betsy Hodges of Minneapolis.

Updated 11:11 a.m.: Emanuel spoke to reporters after the meeting despite earlier reports that he left the meeting without speaking to reporters. He said he met with Trump, his chief of staff and senior advisor.

He said they discussed, "White House operations, how to make that work," according to a pool reporter, and immigration policy. Of the letter from the group of mayors, he said:

"All of us fundamentally believe that these are students, these are also people who want to join the armed forces, they gave their name, their address, their phone number, where they are, they're trying to achieve the American Dream, it's no fault of their own their parents came here," he said. "They are something we should hold up and embrace. And I presented him with a letter signed by 14 mayors from across the country, from all parts of the country, and we are clear as mayors that these are DREAMers who are seeking the American Dream, and we should embrace them rather than do a bait-and-switch."

"I also spoke out strongly about what it means to be a sanctuary city who will support and secure the people who are here, like my grandfather who came to the city of Chicago as a 13-year old 100 years ago," he added. "Chicago was a sanctuary city for my grandfather."

Emanuel told reporters that they also discussed transportation, job creation, and the importance of investing in infrastructure and career-driven higher education.