Bishop Tobin: Ending DACA shatters lives. So does abortion.

Providence, R.I., Sep 5, 2017 / 18:38 pm

Many Americans are justifiably outraged at the lives that will be shattered by the cancellation of DACA – but that same sentiment should extend to the unborn lives cut short by abortion, said Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, R.I.

In a Sept. 5 Facebook post entitled "Other Children Have Dreams Too," Bishop Tobin noted that he and his fellow bishops have been clear in opposing President Donald Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

"The President's decision is a terribly shortsighted approach to a very complex problem. It will cause enormous division in our country and will short-circuit the dreams of many children and young people who were brought to this great country by their parents seeking only security, peace and prosperity," the bishop said.

"At the same time, I wonder about the stunning lack of concern and compassion for the many unborn children who also don't have a chance to live in our country because their lives are terminated by the cruel and violent practice of abortion," he continued.

"They don't have legal protection either. Their dreams are short-circuited too," Bishop Tobin said. "What happened to the consistent ethic of life? Where's the outrage on their behalf? Where's the Governor on this issue? Where's our Congressional delegation?"

The bishop's comments follow Tuesday's announcement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the Trump administration, in an anticipated move, would be ending DACA, which had begun in 2012 under the Obama administration.

Under the program, eligible immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as minors by their parents could receive a two-year stay on their deportation. In that time period, they could be eligible for work permits and Social Security.

Congress had several times tried and failed to pass a bill that would help young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally before the age of 16 to lawfully remain in the U.S. and even have a path to citizenship.

On Tuesday, the administration announced it would end DACA by phasing it out. Sessions said that it was an unconstitutional overreach of executive power, especially since Congress refused several times to grant such benefits to undocumented immigrants.

Sessions also blamed the program for contributing to the recent surge in unaccompanied minors coming to the U.S.-Mexico border from Central America, as well as allowing undocumented immigrants to take jobs that could have been open to U.S. citizens.

Leading U.S. bishops have spoken out against the cancellation of DACA, noting that those covered by the policy did not choose to enter the country illegally, see the U.S. as the only home they have ever known, and could face grave danger if they are deported.