SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A move by President Donald Trump to end the DACA program has immigration advocates voicing strong displeasure.
"It's really unfortunate, really unconscionable and really disguisting and devastating," Workers' Center of Central New York Organizer Nikeeta Slade said. "These are members of our community that contribute greatly."
Slade said there are around 20,000 undocumented immigrants in Upstate New York. Slade's organization works on immigrants' rights, and has seen their impact on the local community.
"Here in New York State, we tout our agriculture industry, and we would not have that kind of industry -- we would not have that kind of prosperity -- if it were not for undocumented immigrant workers," she said.
Those workers are now at risk of deportation, but Trump is giving lawmakers time to act, tweeting, "Congress, get ready to do your job."
Slade and others rallied outside Congressman John Katko's office Tuesday. He said in a statement that the immigration system has long been broken and in need of fixing, and also is "hopeful that as legislators, we can take this opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner to enact a permanent solution on behalf of individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as children.”
Advocates said they'll continue calling on Katko to do so.
"It's really important that we continue to organize and mobilize and push elected officials that you can't hide out; you can't not take positions," Slade said.