Cummins executive issues statement urging Congress to take quick action

Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO of Columbus-based Cummins Inc., issued the following statement after the Trump administration announced its decision Tuesday to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative known commonly as DACA. The program has assisted young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, who are often referred to as “Dreamers.”

“The decision by the Trump Administration to rescind DACA is discriminatory, harmful and sets our country back. These young people deserve every opportunity to continue living, working and thriving in the United States – for nearly all of them the U.S. is the only country they have ever known. This is their home.

“Dreamers are our colleagues, our friends and our neighbors. They strengthen our country through daily contributions to our companies, our universities and our communities. We have a moral obligation to help these young people, protect them from living in fear, and to prevent families from being torn apart.

“Cummins stands in full support of Dreamers and we ask Congress to take immediate action to pass the Dream Act or find a permanent legislative solution to support these young people before anyone is affected by this decision.

“We hope that Americans speak out and make it clear to Congress and the President that we stand with the Dreamers.”

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Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO of Columbus-based Cummins Inc., is among more than 500 American business leaders who are encouraging President Trump plus Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress to preserve the Deterred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA program), which allows 780,000 undocumented immigrants — commonly referred to as Dreamers — brought to America as children to work in the United States without the threat of deportation. The business leaders signed an Aug. 31 open letter calling on Congress to pass the bipartisan Dream Act or similar legislation that would keep the program intact.

Separately, Cummins on Saturday sent out a Tweet: “Cummins is proud to stand with #withDreamers who make our company and our communities stronger. #DefendDACA”

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