Grijalva Leads 156 Members in Calling on Pres. Trump to Exert Power to Protect DREAMers
WASHINGTON D.C.¬– Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva released the following statement after leading 156 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to take necessary action to protect more than 787,000 recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In addition to continuing to accept requests for DACA, the letter asks the Trump Administration to oppose current Court challenges being lobbed against the program by a handful of State Attorney Generals. On June 29th, the Texas Attorney General, along with nine other attorney generals, sent President Trump an ultimatum threatening a legal challenge to DACA unless he ends the program by September 5, 2017. Last week, Rep. Grijalva joined 116 Members of the Democratic Caucus in introducing the American Hope Act.
“I strongly urge President Trump and his administration to take immediate action to protect the more than 787,000 DREAMers currently being threatened with deportation and eliminate the painful uncertainty they face,” Rep Grijalva said. “This ultimatum posed to President Trump by a handful of domineering state officials is nothing more than an attempt to threaten their way into changing federal immigration policy. To say that their actions are beyond their authority and morally bankrupt would be an understatement.”
“DREAMers are our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and friends and colleagues who have lived here for almost all of their lives, and are just as American as you and I. DACA has enabled them to go to school, find work, pay into Medicare and Social Security, and open businesses, all which contribute to the cultural and economic vibrancy of our country. It is incumbent upon the President and all lawmakers to ensure that our government is not in the business of tearing apart innocent families. President Trump should exert his authority and defend the better interest of our nation by protecting DREAMers.”
Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi, D-CA
“Our nation’s DREAMERs are an inspiration, and their courage and patriotism make America more American,” said Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. “The White House has a duty to protect these hard-working young men and women against the senseless cruelty of deportation.”
Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-NY
“The story of DACA has been a record of amazing success, allowing hundreds of thousands of ambitious young women and men to pursue an education and find work – in short, to pursue the American Dream,” said Rep. Clarke. “Participants in this program exemplify the highest ideals of our nation, and should have an opportunity to remain here in the United States permanently, holding jobs, building families, and enjoying the full blessings of American life.
Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA
“Immigrants who have grown up here, went to school here, have laid roots in communities, and are contributing to our country deserve to continue to do all of those things without fear of deportation. That’s what DACA does. It’s a humane policy that creates stability in communities while delivering immense benefits to our economy. I urge Trump to listen to the experts, not turn his back on these aspiring Americans, and support DACA.”
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-NM
“DACA has been a transformative program for young DREAMers and our nation,” said Rep. Lujan Grisham. “Study after study has shown that the DACA program has resulted in increased educational, financial and employment outcomes for DACA recipients, and economic growth for cities, states and our nation as a whole. Moreover, it is a program that has led to a renewed sense of hope for young people who are American in every way. DACA has been a model of success and enjoys broad support from the American public across party lines. Yet, all of this progress and the promise we have made to DACA recipients is now in peril. The administration’s leadership on this issue is critically important to the lives of DACA recipients, their families and communities. I urge you to instruct your administration to defend the DACA program and to build on the success of the program by supporting one of the bi-partisan bills in the House and Senate that will give those who arrived in the United States as children a path to permanent legal status and eventual citizenship.”
Rep. James McGovern, D-MA
“America’s strength comes from our diversity and the generations of hardworking immigrants who built this country. Ripping families apart and deporting children from the only country they’ve ever called home is cruel and wrong. I urge President Trump and his administration to do the right thing and take immediate action to protect these DREAMers who are being threatened with deportation,” Rep. McGovern said. “In Massachusetts and across the country, immigrants play a vital role in strengthening our communities and moving our country forward. These families deserve better.”
Full text of the letter can be found here.
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