Elected officials, university presidents and leaders in the business and faith communities continued to call on Congress this week to pass a bipartisan solution that would allow Dreamers to continue living, working and studying in the United States without disruption. A permanent legislative solution is the only path forward to prevent the devastating consequences of watching our nation rip nearly 800,000 hardworking young people out of the workforce and our communities, using our taxpayer dollars to arrest and deport people.
Wanted to make sure you’d seen these new developments this week in the fight to protect Dreamers under imminent threat of deportation:
The Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration released an interactive map of the economic impact of GDP loss anticipated in each Congressional District if all DACA workers from the district lose their work permits and are removed from the American workforce.
Nebraska Republicans at the local and federal levels voiced their support for passing a legislative solution to protect Dreamers:
- Republican Congressman Don Bacon (NE-2), a co-sponsor of the RAC Act, said he would continue to stand by Dreamers, saying “I think it’s important for Dreamers to know that I will stand for them and that I will not allow any DACA child who works hard, and is doing the best she or he can, be deported.” Congressman Bacon later told the Nebraska Radio Network:
- “I think we’ve got to fight to do the right thing. I’ve known about 80 of these DACA kids and some of them will break your heart. They’ve been hiding their whole life and worried about having a broken tail light. I met a girl the other day who wants to go to New York University to be a professional dancer. Another guy already has a clothing company. He is 17 years old and already has his own clothing line. They are very sharp young folks who only know this country.”
- The bipartisan Omaha City Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 17, to urge Congress to pass legislation to protect Dreamers. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, a Republican, is expected to sign the resolution, which notes that “Dreamers have become part of the fabric of our society, and it is within the power of Congress to act in an effort to implement protections for Dreamers.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Democratic Leader Pelosi joined Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Jimmy Gomez, the Los Angeles Unified School District, business and faith leaders and Dreamers for a roundtable discussion on the Dream Act, saying:
“All we need is a vote. All we need is vote. And do you know why? Because the DREAMers have conducted this crusade for America in such a dignified way and that’s why I think, as I said the President supports the DREAMers because the American people support the DREAMers and Republicans hear that in their districts.”
Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN) on Tuesday, Oct. 17, met with local Dreamers to learn about the real life impacts of immigration policy on their lives and on the city of Rochester, saying:
“Let me be clear: these children are Americans. This is their home. Deporting Dreamers, who contribute much to our society, harms our economy and our moral fabric. Congress must act. I call on Speaker Ryan and my Republican colleagues, some of whom have already expressed their support for DACA, to act immediately. This moment requires them to put their country and human decency over politics, and I stand ready to work with them on this issue, as well as comprehensive immigration reform.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Leon Panetta, Madeleine Albright, Univision CEO Randy Falco, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Harvard President Drew Faust and the governors of North Carolina and Colorado are among the founders of the Dream Coalition, which launched Monday, Oct. 16, to urge Congress to protect immigrants who came here as children:
“Our nation’s greatness will only be enhanced by our embrace of Dreamers. We believe their full incorporation into America’s fabric is critical to our future success. Dreamers serve in our military, learn in our schools, work and innovate in our businesses, pay taxes, and make our economy and communities stronger. Deporting Dreamers would be profoundly self-defeating and trigger enormous and unnecessary economic and social consequences.”
Dreamers In The News:
- The Hill // College presidents: Protect our students, pass the Dream Act (authored by the Presidents of Georgetown University, George Mason University, Montgomery College and Northern Virginia Community College)
- The Sacramento Bee (op-ed) // A ‘Dreamer’ wants to give back to the Central Valley
- Mercury News // Ramona Giwargis // “You still help them with fixing their streetlight”: DACA recipients make a difference in Silicon Valley government
- The Gonzaga Bulletin // Ian Davis-Leonard // Jesuit student body presidents take stand on DACA
- Axios // Bipartisan leaders launch coalition to ensure protections for Dreamers
