Moral Messaging on DACA Repeal

CORE MESSAGE FRAMING

If Trump has killed DACA:

President Trump has just turned our young immigrant neighbors dreams into a nightmare. He
has dealt a cruel and devastating blow to the future of a generation of dreamers who are
working and studying hard and becoming leaders in our communities. DACA gave many of our
immigrant brothers and sisters work permits and protection from the threat of deportation so
they could pursue their dreams. Taking that away is a sin, and no way to treat our fellow
children of God.

Its time for Members of Congress to finally step up and protect immigrant families by passing
the DREAM Act. Congress faces a choice between protecting dreamers human dignity or being
complicit in destroying their futures. This is a fundamental moral question about the kind of
nation we want to be.

If Trump has not killed DACA:

Right now President Trump faces a clear moral choice. If he preserves DACA, he protects the
future of dreamers who are working and studying hard in our classrooms and communities. If
he ends DACA, he will turn those dreams into a nightmare and cruelly scar our immigrant
neighbors lives and futures. These are our fellow children of God, and it is a sin to take away
the protections that allow them to pursue their dreams.

Its time for Members of Congress to finally step up and protect immigrant families by passing
the DREAM Act. This is more than a political debate, its a fundamental moral question about
the kind of nation we want to be.

SUPPORTING MESSAGES

Point out bipartisan support: Public support for Dreamers is strong. DACA is popular
with the public and enjoys the support of employers, educators, community leaders,
faith leaders and elected officials from both parties. According to an April Morning
Consult and Politico poll, 78% of American voters support giving Dreamers the chance
to stay permanently in America, including 73% of Trump voters.

Connect to white supremacists: While the vast majority of Americans support

protecting Dreamers, there is one exception -- the kind of white supremacists and
neo-Nazis we saw carrying torches in Charlottesville. Ending DACA puts President
Trump on the side of hate groups, and against the vast majority of Americans.

 Pose the moral question to Congress: Its time for Republicans to decide which side
of history they want to be on. Are they going to protect 800,000 young adults who are
the living embodiment of the American dream, or will they stand idly by and let their
president destroy the livelihoods of these talented young Americans?

DOS AND DONTS

DO: Talk about the kind of nation we want to be. T
his phrase, as well as this overall line
of messaging, appeals to aspirational shared values and seizes the moral high ground.

DO: Tell your story. If you or someone close to you are protected protected by DACA, your
personal story is more compelling than any talking point. Make sure to keep it brief, vivid and
focused on your future and your family.

DO: Humanize dreamers. Refer to families, neighbors, co-workers, friends, parents and
children. Emphasize that Dreamers came to the U.S. as young children with their parents, and
that without DACA many will face deportation to countries they have never known.

DO: Center human dignity, not utilitarian arguments. By focusing on family and human
dignity, we avoid the good immigrant vs bad immigrant trap.

DONT: Fall into the good immigrant vs bad immigrant frame. Anti-immigrant groups
want to keep the debate focused on who deserves to be here -- and who doesnt. Breaking out
of this criminal frame is essential. For example, instead of emphasizing that an immigrant has
no serious criminal record, stress their family connections and ties to their community.

DONT: Commodify immigrants. Although immigrants contributions to the economy and the
tax base are important, these benefits are ultimately not why we support immigration policy
reform as people of faith. Lead with values!

DONT: Repeat the myths. Immigrants are not taking our jobs, or these are not bad
hombres, for example, reinforces the other sides message.

Say this Not that

The kind of nation we want to be A nation of immigrants

An outdated immigration system A broken immigration system

Immigration policy reform Immigration reform

This is about American values This is about immigrants rights

Neighbors, friends, coworkers, parents Immigrant communities