FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2017
CONTACT: Sam Yu | syu@nakasec.org | 213-703-0992
Washington D.C. – December 21, 2017 – Last night, the United States Congress enraged millions of Americans by voting for a Continuing Resolution without attaching the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and affiliates, HANA Center and the Korean Resource Center (KRC), believe every vote cast to support a Continuing Resolution without the DREAM Act was a vote to deport over 2 million young immigrant Americans. To abandon our young people is un-American.
Voting 251- 169 in the House of Representatives and 66 – 32 in the Senate, Congress extended the deadline to pass a 2018 government spending bill to January 19, 2018.
Since August 2017, NAKASEC and affiliate youth leaders have maintained a constant presence in Washington D.C. to demand that Members of Congress honor their pledge to pass a legislative solution to the cancellation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by the end of the year. Activities included holding a 22-day round the clock vigil in front of the White House, meeting legislators, organizing press conferences and rallies, and conducting direct actions.
While more Senators voted against the CR for not having a DREAM Act today as compared to December 7th including California Senator Dianne Feinstein and Illinois Senators Richard Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, there were not enough votes to secure the futures of our young people.
Despite their deep disappointment, NAKASEC and affiliate young leaders are more determined than ever to pass a clean DREAM Act in January 2018. With the messages to Members of Congress that “We are not your props” and “Action not words,” they will educate, organize, and advocate in Washington D.C. and their home districts to ensure that Congress does its job and protects the future of America’s young people.
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Founded in 1994, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)’s mission is to organize Korean and Asian Americans to achieve social, economic, and racial justice. NAKASEC maintains offices in Annandale, Virginia, Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California. NAKASEC has affiliates in Chicago (HANA Center) and Los Angeles and Orange County (Korean Resource Center).
