Washington – The First Focus Campaign for Children, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, sent a letter today urging members of Congress not to sign a letter coordinated by Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) concerning the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration policy. Issa’s letter urges President Barack Obama to rescind DACA and accelerate the deportation of immigrants who entered the United States as children.

“Children fleeing brutal violence come to America seeking protection and opportunity, and Congressman Issa wants to give them an express ticket back to extreme danger,” said Campaign for Children president Bruce Lesley.

The Campaign for Children letter challenges mischaracterizations in Rep. Issa’s letter, which asserts that DACA is responsible for increased immigration by Central American children. The Campaign for Children letter observes that, like refugees fleeing Syria and other conflict regions, children are fleeing Central American countries wracked by increased political instability and drug violence.

“Rather than attacking children and pitting one vulnerable set of youth against another, Congress should be working towards solutions to protect the best interests of all children,” said Lesley.