DENVER — Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne and Congressman Jared Polis joined members of the business community on Wednesday to defend the deferred action for childhood arrivals program.
The program, initiated under President Barack Obama, is facing a threat from 10 attorneys general in mostly Republican states.
“Denver’s young people striving to achieve deserve the opportunity to do so right here in the home they grew up in,” Hancock said. “I cannot fathom an American system that would not provide that opportunity to immigrant youth.
The attorneys general are threatening to sue if the program is not changed by Sept. 5.
In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, they argued President Donald Trump cannot institute such a program without congressional approval.
Trump, who has not touched the DACA program so far, might be forced to defend the program in court if the lawsuit goes forward — a political position some say he might be unwilling to take.
“When my DACA application was approved and I received my work permit in January of 2013, the trajectory of my life completely changed: I had the opportunity to do things many of my friends and classmates took for granted such as obtaining a driver’s license, building my credit, and having the ability to accept paid internship opportunities at places such as the Colorado Legislature and Morgan Stanley,” said DACA recipient Marco Dorado.