For Immediate Release:
July 21, 2017
Contact: Becky Belcore, becky@nakasec.org, 312-804-3417
NAKASEC & Affiliates Call on Congress to Support and Protect Our Young People
Yesterday, Senators Durbin (D-IL), Graham (R-SC), Schumer (D-NY) and Flake (R-AZ) re-introduced the DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) into the United States Senate. The DREAM Act will grant conditional residency for undocumented young people and provide them with a pathway towards citizenship. It is expected the bill will also be re-introduced into the House of Representatives shortly.
About three weeks ago, the Texas attorney general with nine other states threatened to sue the government if DACA is not rescinded. Ending the DACA program will throw the lives of almost 800,000 young people into chaos, stealing their ability to work, provide for their families and live without fear from deportation. This is unacceptable and Congress must act now to ensure DACA is maintained and protected.
The re-introduction of the DREAM Act is a beacon of light during these dark times and, with our young people, we must fight for the best and most inclusive version of this bill. There are an estimated 130,000 DACA eligible AAPIs in the U.S. We urge our Members of Congress to both protect DACA and pass the DREAM Act immediately so that our young people can live without fear and continue to contribute positively to this country.
Reference: Side by Side: Provisions of the 2010 and 2017 Dream Acts and DACA by the National Immigration Law Center
