Support Dreamers with legislation

Three years have passed since I last penned a letter urging Congress to safeguard the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In that time, DACA recipients (often known as Dreamers) have continued to live under constant threat of their work authorizations and deportation protections being revoked. Due to a recent court ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, DACA is now closer to elimination than ever before.

I have been a police officer for over 40 years and the Cedar Rapids Police Chief since 2012. In this time, I have come to recognize DACA as essential for our community’s immigrant population to have confidence in, and cooperate with, local law enforcement. Without the protection DACA provides, people are less likely to report crime or act as witnesses out of fear of deportation. An end to the program would mean the end of an essential communication link between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. This is a detriment to public safety.

Dreamers are subject to thorough background checks, lengthy confirmation processes and contribute to our society through work, community involvement and public service. These individuals deserve the protections they have received.

With the future of Dreamers uncertain, I am once again urging Congress, especially Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, to act swiftly to protect DACA and provide Dreamers with a pathway to citizenship.

DACA supports public safety, which continues to be — and will remain — my number one priority.

Wayne Jerman

Cedar Rapids Chief of Police