Congress Must Act To Protect American Dreamers
February 27, 2018
Today is the last day Congress is in session before the March 5th deadline to protect American Dreamers, and Republican lawmakers have done nothing. While the Supreme Court delivered a temporary victory yesterday, the futures of American Dreamers remain at risk as Trump continues to push his anti-immigrant agenda. Congress needs to act to find a permanent solution. Each day without legislation is another day American Dreamers are left to live in fear of being sent back to a country they do not know.
The Supreme Court’s decision delivered a temporary victory for American Dreamers, and represents a rebuke of Trump’s efforts to end protections for them.
NBC News: “In blow to Trump, Supreme Court won’t hear appeal of DACA ruling”
USA Today: “The action represents a temporary victory for the young adults brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents or guardians under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program established by President Barack Obama in 2012. And it represents a major setback for the Trump administration, which vowed to continue the legal battle in the lower courts.”
Trump has already said he will fight the court’s ruling, putting the futures of American Dreamers at risk.
CNN: “The White House said it was disappointed in the ruling.”
NBC News: “After the Supreme Court's decision Monday, the White House said, ‘The DACA program — which provides work permits and myriad government benefits to illegal immigrants en masse — is clearly unlawful. The district judge's decision to unilaterally re-impose a program that Congress had explicitly and repeatedly rejected is a usurpation of legislative authority…We look forward to having this case expeditiously heard by the appeals court and, if necessary, the Supreme Court, where we fully expect to prevail.’”
After Trump rescinded DACA and repeatedly sabotaged bipartisan immigration deals, it is clear he cannot be trusted to protect American Dreamers.
New York Times: “President Trump on Tuesday ordered an end to the Obama-era program that shields young undocumented immigrants from deportation, calling it an ‘amnesty-first approach’ and urging Congress to pass a replacement before he begins phasing out its protections in six months.”
Associated Press: “The Trump administration is denouncing a bipartisan immigration deal in the Senate, saying it will ‘create a mass amnesty for over 10 million illegal aliens, including criminals.’”
CNN: “The White House is dismissing an immigration deal brokered by a bipartisan group of lawmakers as a non-starter just hours before it is expected to be formally introduced in the Senate.”
Trump has tried to use American Dreamers as leverage to push his anti-immigrant agenda, as he continues to seek changes to our immigration system.
New York Times: “But Democrats, and some Republicans, accuse Mr. Trump and his hard-line conservative White House advisers of using the Dreamers as leverage for changes to the immigration system that conservative, anti-immigrant activists have long sought.”
Congress needs to act now to find a permanent solution and provide certainty to American Dreamers, who remain at risk of deportation.
USA Today: “No new applicants can apply for DACA during this period.”
The Hill: “The Supreme Court could still agree to hear the case after it is heard by the lower appeals court.”
New York Times: “They remain at risk of deportation if immigration agents find them.”