Criticism is mounting over President Donald Trump’s decision to end a program protecting young, undocumented immigrants. The Catholic Dominican Sisters in Springfield recently added their voice to the crowd.
Sister Marcelline Koch said the religious group’s support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, is rooted in teachings about welcoming the stranger and treating people with dignity and respect.
“It seems really an egregious piece to tell them you have no place here now," she said. "They’ve gone to school, some of them are working, some of them have served in the military or want to do that, so we want that for them as well.”
Koch said these young people contribute to the nation’s economy, not detract from it. She hopes Congress will come to an agreement that allows the estimated 800,000 so-called Dreamers a path to citizenship.