Community leaders and lawmakers gathered Tuesday evening on the steps of the Grand Rapids Public Schools Franklin Campus building to stand in solidarity against President Donald Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, better known as DACA. Following the gathering, the Grand Rapids Board of Education passed a resolution calling on Congress to take immediate action.
“As the Board of Education we are deeply disappointed in President Trump’s most recent action ending DACA by March 5, 2015,” Grand Rapids Board President Dr. Wendy Falb said in a statement. “In light of this action and timeline is an imperative that the United States Congress take action and pass the Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors act. The Dream Act.”
Standing in solidarity with the Board of Education Tuesday included Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal, State Representative Winnie Brinks and City Commissioner Ruth Kelly who stood in for Grand Rapids mayor Rosalynn Bliss.
President Donald Trump has set March 5th as the expiration date for the legal protections granted to roughly 800,000 people known as "DREAMers," who entered the country illegally as children.