During the 2016 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump promised immigration reforms that would prioritize Americans, safeguard national security, and fortify the sovereignty of the United States. His unconventional proposals called for a complete Muslim ban, mass deportation, and drastic reduction in legal immigration. Despite the resistance of the unified left and a few of the right, recent measures of the Trump administration had fulfilled his past rhetoric of linking immigrants to unemployment, terror, and crime. The travel ban restricted immigrants and refugees from several Muslim nations, RAISE Act reduced immigration by half, and Kate’s Law aimed to defund sanctuary cities. On September 5, 2017, President Trump took a swing at the undocumented immigrants who came at a very young age. The recent steps by the Trump administration are not only impractical but beyond unnecessary.

The government proposed different measures to secure borders and vet possible terrorists, but rarely did they target tax-paying workers. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals—the program Donald Trump will rescind—is an administrative relief from deportation initiated by President Obama. In short, DACA grants a renewable work permit and a temporary hold on deportation to undocumented immigrants who arrived as minors. However, when it comes to Donald Trump’s strict immigration agenda, there are no exceptions. The “illegals” have to go. Recently, some of the top conservative figures have sided against President Trump on this particular issue. The Koch Brothers, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Republican senators, and even Ann Coulter have defended the “dreamers.” But why? Because DACA represents everything America stands for.

Jeff Sessions made it clear that the primary motivation behind repealing DACA was to protect the sovereignty of the nation; the Republican party constantly attacked Obama for passing the program with the executive power and named it one of the reasons why they are rescinding DACA. The Constitution, however, does promise the executive branch of the power to constitute laws through executive order, so the notion that the law is unconstitutional is flawed. The United States has proved itself to be just with the Constitution being the bedrock of its governance over the years. Many developing nations see America as the model for democracy and justice, but more than everything, America’s  a model of moral integrity.

The 800,000 workers covered by DACA know America as their home nation; they’ve lived on American soil most of their lives and the values they hold are just as American as anyone else. Unfortunately, some of the DACA recipients discover their status later in life as a surprise when applying to a college, job, or any government services. “It is right for there to be consequences for those who intentionally entered this country illegally,” Senator Lankford (R-OK) said in a statement. “However, we as Americans do not hold children legally accountable for the actions of their parents.”

DACA requires a clean criminal record and a high school diploma; once they are admitted into the program, they are given the work permit. Young immigrants who lived their lives as properly as anyone else, should not face consequences they do not deserve. It is not fair to them, nor to the principles of this nation. By allowing renewable permits, they are not given citizenship nor are they permanently immune from deportation. For the sake of their future, DACA simply protects them from a penalty they do not deserve.

For those who are concerned of the financial impact, the program might still feel undesirable. President Trump especially doubled down on the fiscal damage of illegal immigration estimating $113 million of economic burdens: “The influx of foreign workers holds down salaries, keeps unemployment high, and makes it difficult for poor and working class Americans,” Trump said. Research, however, says otherwise. According to Bloomberg view, the DACA participants increased the national wage and are an asset to the American workforce. In addition, the DACA recipients have shown to be well-educated and, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, there’s no evidence to claim that they are stealing jobs away from the American people. Also, in a market with a healthy economy and full employment with more job openings, losing the capacity of DACA recipients will disrupt the American economy.

The Dreamers believe in the promises of this land. They believe hard work will reward their future. But now, it is the job of the American people to solidify the values of the United States. America must show that justice will be served to innocent people, and that children’s futures will not be disturbed by the faults of their parents. America must protect the morality and integrity of the nation.