BROOKINGS – More than 100 people showed up at Thursday’s Standing with the Dreamers Rally outside the Swiftel Center, where Rep. Kristi Noem was scheduled to speak at a Sioux Valley Energy event.
The rally was hosted by the SDSU College Democrats to show support for the Dreamers who have been affected by President Donald Trump’s recent decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Others endorsing the rally this week were the South Dakota Democratic Party, the Benedictine Multicultural Center, the SDSU Political Science Club, the SDSU American Indian Association and Brookings County Democrats.
The DACA program, which protects young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children or came with families who overstayed visas, has been rescinded.
It has allowed nearly 800,000 immigrants to obtain work permits and deportation protection since 2012, when it was created by an executive order from President Barack Obama. But many questions remain about what will happen to the program's beneficiaries.
SDSU College Democrats President Claire Deuter said the group wanted to show Noem how many people care about the issue and are calling on both Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation to protect Dreamers.
The group chanted phrases such as “What do we want? The Dream Act. When do we want it? Now!”, “Dreamers are welcome here” and “What makes America great? Love, not hate!” as attendees of the Sioux Valley event entered the Swiftel Center.
