Alexandria, VA — Islamic Relief USA strongly denounces the decision announced Tuesday morning by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA. The program helped protect from deportation some 800,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to, and effectively lived much of their lives in, the United States.
Islamic Relief USA believes the Justice Department’s decision to effectively end DACA puts the lives of many individuals who have been productive contributors to our society in jeopardy.
The mission of our organization has always been to help people regardless of race, creed or nationality. Our program participants in the United States have long included people of immigrant heritage. We have gotten to know many immigrants through our programs in areas such as vocational education, health care services, and financial literacy. We have watched these individuals find their place in the United States, where they quickly begin to contribute their skills and talents to benefit America’s economy, education system, and overall social fabric. So many times, we have learned from them as well, and they have impressed us with their strength and integrity.
We believe this decision weakens the United States’ commitment to excellence and depletes our society of individuals of potential and promise.
MEDIA CONTACT
Minhaj Hassan
syedhassan@irusa.org or (703) 370-7246
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy and disease regardless of color, race, gender or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. Islamic Relief USA aims to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish sustainable local development projects, allowing communities to better help themselves. Its programs benefit millions of people each year around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.