WASHINGTON, DC – FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement opposing the “End The Shutdown and Secure the Border Act,” which is being voted in the Senate today:

“The President has said in the past that he supports permanent protections for Dreamers, and this legislation acknowledges the need to offer some protections to Dreamers and TPS recipients. This concession is important, but the legislation proposed is unacceptable. Unfortunately, this bill offers only temporary protections for an even smaller number of DACA recipients and TPS holders that currently exist. Moreover, it includes poison pill amendments, specifically with harmful changes to the legal protections for migrant children, the asylum system, and significant increases to immigration jail space, that we cannot support. We urge all Senators to oppose this legislation.

“If the President wants to put forth a package that can actually achieve the bipartisan support required for 218 House votes and 60 Senate votes, he should reopen the government and begin conversations that clearly exclude these poison pill amendments, and that include permanent protections for Dreamers and TPS holders, along with border security.”