Senator calls on Republican leaders in Congress to accept one of the six bipartisan solutions on the table to save the Dreamers
WASHINGTON—(ENEWSPF)—April 10, 2018
By: Rosemary Piser
Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) once again came to the Senate floor to call on Republican leaders in Congress to pass the bipartisan Dream Act now. As of March 5, 2018 – the arbitrary deadline that President Trump set for expiration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program – hundreds of thousands of immigrants who came to the United States as children, known as Dreamers, faced losing their work permits and being deported to countries they barely remember. Because a federal court has issued an order blocking President Trump’s repeal of DACA, Dreamers that have DACA can continue to apply to renew their status for now.
Senator Durbin said,
“How did we get into this crisis? President Trump’s decision, September 5, 2017, to end DACA created the crisis we face. We need to work toward a solution. The president has rejected six bipartisan proposals. I don’t know what it will take to bring him around. I’m skeptical now of any statements that he would make publically that he wants to solve this problem. But I also know that we face uncertainty for these young people. I urge my colleagues on both sides, don’t quit on this issue. Don’t quit on these young people. This issue is not over because we have failed in the Senate. The issue is still there. The question is whether Senators from both political parties can summon the courage to solve this problem.”
In March 2018, Senator Durbin spoke with Secretary of the Department of Homeland Kirstjen Nielsen, who personally assured him that Dreamers with pending DACA renewal applications will not be deported, even if their DACA status has expired. However, for DACA recipients whose status has expired, DHS will not authorize them to work unless and until their DACA is renewed.
As a result, tens of thousands of DACA-eligible individuals could be forced to leave their jobs while their applications are pending and before their renewals are approved.
Source: www.durbin.senate.gov
