Writing a Letter to the Editor: DACA/Dreamers

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The Basics

  • Write from the heart and keep your letter short – Less than 200 words. Each paper may have different rules relating to letters to the editor, so always check the editorial page of the paper.
  • Start with a strong statement explaining your main idea– grab the reader’s attention! Come up with a catchy title!
  • Be informed and passionate but also polite – include your own experiences if you can.
  • Think about your audience –Editors are more willing to publish an LTE that shows relevance to its readers. Be sure to mention any local actions or issues that have recently surfaced.
  • The success of an LTE is not just when it gets published! Editors pay attention to the LTEs they receive, and multiple letters on a single topic could inform future articles.
  • Be clear and propose a solution or call to action! Why do you want people to care?
  • Make sure you proofread and spellcheck! It is helpful to have someone read over your letter before you submit it.
  • Most papers will not publish a letter that has been submitted to another newspaper
  • Keep an eye on the LTE page to see if anyone responds to your letter! It could be a great way to create a dialogue with other people.
  • When submitting an LTE, be sure to provide your full name, address, phone number, and email address.

Points to Emphasize in your Letter to the Editor about DACA

  • Explain what DACA is and what the BRIDGE Act does and why it matters to you.
  • The Senate version of the BRIDGE Act is sponsored by Senator Graham and it has bi-partisan support.
  • Say somewhere Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is only an Executive Order and that it must be passed into law to protect these DREAMERs.
  • Our SC Congressional Delegation must follow Senator Graham’s lead and support the BRIDGE Act.
  • You may want to say what BRIDGE stands for. Bar Removal of Individuals Who Dream and Grow our Economy.
  • Thank Senator Graham and Representative Clyburn for their support of the bill.
  • Most importantly – speak from the heart!

Sample phrases

“The BRIDGE Act would allow these individuals to remain here legally, stay in school, contribute to our economy and pay taxes.”

“The DACA policy is one of compassion to protect immigrants brought here as children.”

“Recipients of DACA have some of the most compelling cases because they were brought here as children with no choice in the matter. They see themselves as Americans”

“While I prefer these DACA recipients have a path to citizenship, I recognize that right now their ability to remain in America is being jeopardized. Their immediate need to stabilize their status into law can only be met by the passage of the BRIDGE Act.”

“The BRIDGE Act provides a proper path for Congress to stabilize DACA status into law by providing a legislative fix.”

“DACA youth have no felony convictions, met educational requirements and did not make the choice to come to the United States.”

”Thousands of people in our state are protected by DACA. They are in high schools, colleges and our work force. They must be protected and have their status stabilized into law.” 

Examples

BRIDGE/Immigration

Example 1:

The engineer, the architect, and the welder are sitting in front of me, gripped with the same fear as every other Dreamer across the country after the 2016 election. These individuals have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status and after more than four years, they are faced with the possibility of losing the status that has allowed them to work, go to college, and live without the constant fear of deportation. The DACA program allows individuals brought to the United States as children before their 15th birthday and June 15, 2007 to work and go to school. DACA recipients have to be employed or pursuing an education to receive DACA. Dreamers have no path to a green card or citizenship. This administration is willing to ruin the lives of more than 200,000 immigrant youth for the partisan gratification of undoing Barack Obama’s 2012 executive actions.

The DACA program has been a resounding success. More than 7,000 immigrant youth across the state of South Carolina have DACA status. My work will not end with the engineer, the architect, and the welder. They are the new foundation of the state and we cannot allow it to be demolished. 

Example 2:

I support Senator Graham’s bi-partisan proposed BRIDGE Act (Bar Removal of Individuals Who Dream and Grow our Economy). This proposed legislation would protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, sometimes called DREAMers. Taking DREAMers status away would be a grave injustice to the 750,000 individuals who qualified for and are protected by the policy. These immigrants were brought to America as children and grew up here and many do not remember the country they were born in. DACA recipients passed background checks, paid fees and met educational requirements.  Their future remains uncertain unless the BRIDGE Act is passed.  I hope that others will join me in calling SC Congressional Delegation and telling them to protect these DREAMers. 

Please contact our Immigration Policy Community Organizers, Ana and Christine, if you would like to discuss LTE’s further.
Phone: 803-779-1113 x 108
Ana [email protected]
Christine [email protected]