Boston Foundation statement on decision to sunset DACA provisions

Boston – The Boston Foundation today issued the following statement on the announcement by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the Trump Administration would sunset the Deferred Action for Children Arrivals (DACA) program in March without action from Congress.

“The decision today to sunset the DACA program in March wrongly targets some of the most vulnerable residents of our society. Studies show “DREAMers” protected by DACA add billions of dollars to our economy, serve in our military, and provide positive benefits to our society. When asked to trust our government and come forward, they did so. This decision risks betraying that trust by potentially forcing thousands of them to return “home” to lands they have never known.

“The Boston Foundation was established more than a century ago to uplift all members of our community, and we will not shy away from that mission. We will continue to support immigrants from all nations and those who are fighting to protect their rights, expand their opportunities and realize their dreams.”

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The Boston Foundation, Greater Boston’s community foundation, is one of the largest community foundations in the nation, with net assets of some $1 billion. In 2016, the Foundation and its donors made $100 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and received gifts of more than $107 million. In celebration of its Centennial in 2015, the Boston Foundation launched the ongoing Campaign for Boston to strengthen the Permanent Fund for Boston, the principal endowment fund focused on the most pressing needs of Greater Boston. The Foundation is proud to be a partner in philanthropy, with more than 1,000 separate charitable funds established by donors either for the general benefit of the community or for special purposes. The Boston Foundation also serves as a major civic leader, think tank and advocacy organization, commissioning research into the most critical issues of our time and helping to shape public policy designed to advance opportunity for everyone in Greater Boston. The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), a distinct operating unit of the Foundation, designs and implements customized philanthropic strategies for families, foundations and corporations around the globe. For more information about the Boston Foundation and TPI, visit tbf.org or call 617-338-1700.