12.08.2017

WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, Congress passed a two-week funding bill without addressing key priorities like the DREAM Act. Since the Trump administration ended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in September, more than 11,000 young immigrants have lost their protection from deportation and work authorization, with an additional 122 Dreamers losing their legal status every day. Last night’s continuing resolution means that the lives of hundreds of thousands of Dreamers continue to hang in the balance.

Ana Maria Archila, Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy, issued the following statement:

“Congress must act before the end of the year to pass a clean DREAM Act. With every day that goes by, the lives of more Dreamers are placed at risk. We need a permanent legislative solution for immigrant youth, a solution that gives our communities the freedom to stay in the place they call home and the freedom to thrive. The time is now for Congress to act. Any vote for a spending bill without a clean DREAM Act is a vote to deport Dreamers, a vote to tear families and communities apart, and a vote for white supremacy.”

Lilibeth Tinoco, a youth leader from CPD affiliate Make the Road Pennsylvania, issued the following statement:

“Losing my DACA status would set me and my family back in so many ways. I would go back to living in fear, watching my every move. My family would lose consistent income from my job, and my employer would lose someone they depend on. This is wrong – and no one should have to live like this.”
 

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Media Contact:
Asya Pikovsky, apikovsky@populardemocracy.org, 207-522-2442