Over 17,000 Immigrant Youth Already Vulnerable to Deportation;
Pass the Dream Act Now!
Today, Senator Bob Casey voted to support a proposal by Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to end the Trump Shutdown without any resolution of key issue priorities. The agreement includes a promise from Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to end his refusal to allow the Dream Act to be voted upon.
Cristina Jimenez, Executive Director and Co-Founder of United We Dream, said,
“There is no way to spin this – immigrant youth will suffer in detention camps and be deported because Senator Casey delayed a breakthrough on the Dream Act today. United We Dream and our members are outraged because our members, including my brother Jonathan, are in greater danger today because of the cowardice of US Senators.
“Trump killed DACA and then he and his staff blew up bipartisan progress. Instead of standing up for principle and for the lives of young people, Congressional leaders met the moment with games.
“Many Democrats refused to take a stand and only did so after immigrant youth and allies held sit-ins and got arrested at their offices. Senator Casey tweeted immediately after the Senate vote on Friday night:
“Congress should stay in session until an agreement is reached that provides funding for rural health care, our veterans, our workers, retirees, national security and the Dreamers.” “I was not elected to genuflect to the demands of extreme House Republicans. I have an obligation to fight for the millions of families left out of this bill.”— Sen. Casey
“Clearly, Senator Casey felt strongly that a Dream Act should be included in the bill but failed to stand by that belief in his vote a mere two days later. Senators who voted today for the promise of a symbolic vote on the Dream Act are not resisting Trump – they are enablers. Republicans played games too, holding the Dream Act hostage and pitted the safety of immigrant youth against children’s healthcare, proving their cruelty to the world.
“Senators can and must deliver on the Dream Act by February 8th. We don’t need a symbolic vote – we need a breakthrough and a solution.
“Immigrant youth will keep fighting for the Dream Act because our lives and the moral center of this country are at stake.
“United We Dream leaders represent the best of this country. We wear our orange hats and shirts with pride knowing that we are doing everything in our power to resist the hatred of Trump and will hold both parties accountable to protecting our people and the values this country is supposed to represent.”
Since Trump killed the DACA program, nearly 17,000 immigrant young people have lost their protection and millions who would be protected from deportation with the Dream Act have no protection at all. Every week, over 850 more lose protection— the urgency is real.
Rainy Leonor Lake, potential Dream Act beneficiary and resident of Reading, PA, said:
“I’m stunned and angry to know that Senator Casey would cave to Mitch McConnell and the Republicans, walking away with only a ‘promise’ to protect immigrant youth. Senator Casey: a promise will not protect me and it will not protect my friend Elli who is also a DACAmented youth.
“Today, your unwillingness to take a stand leaves both of us in more danger and one step closer to deportation. By February 8th, over 19,000 young people will have lost our jobs, our education, our ability to drive, and our safety.”
Elli Vachaviolou, student and potential Dream Act beneficiary from Reading, PA, added:
“In this moment in history we are experiencing a humanitarian crisis. This is our home and we will keep fighting until we win protections for ourselves and our community. We need a Dream Act now!”
United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, a powerful network made up of over 400,000 members and 48 affiliate organizations across 26 states. UWD’s vision is to build a multi-racial, multi-ethnic movement of young people who organize and advocate at the local and national levels for the dignity and justice of immigrants and communities of color in the United States. You can find more about UWD online at www.unitedwedream.org.
Information Provided to TVL by:
Ashleigh Strange
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