Below are Statements from House Representatives about DACA Continued from page 1. (Check back for updates on this page)
House Representative Michael T. McCaul (R-TX, 10th)
“President Trump’s elimination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is a cruel betrayal of 800,000 young DREAMers who love this country and call America home. Deporting college students, first responders, and service members who came to America as children is bigoted, callous, and does nothing to make America stronger.
“House Republican leadership must immediately bring legislation to the House Floor to preserve DACA and protect DREAMers from deportation. House Democrats are united and we will fight to protect DREAMers and the best of American values they represent.”
House Representative A. Donald McEachin (D VA, 4th)
“Today, the Trump Administration punished young people for choices made by their parents and penalized them for striving for the American dream - working hard and getting a good education.
“President Trump used Attorney General Jeff Sessions to inform Americans that the program ‘is being rescinded’ to ‘limit’ the number of immigrants we accept into our country. Study after study has demonstrated that DACA recipients go to school, work good jobs and contribute back – in tax dollars and brain power – to our country and our economy. Instead of appreciating their contributions, this administration has once again demonstrated their narrow, bigoted view of what makes this country great.
“The policy announced today only serves to undermine young people who have done nothing to deserve forced separation from their friends, family, and community. Against the advice of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, President Trump is proceeding with terminating this program. One cannot help but wonder if this President's real motivation is to undo this program because it began under President Obama’s leadership.
“Let's do what we know is right – allow these young people to remain here, in the country they call home, to earn an honest living, to attend school, and to pursue the American Dream.
“I stand with the Dreamers, and I urge all of my colleagues in both chambers of Congress to do the same.”
House Representative James McGovern (D-MA, 2nd)
“Today’s decision by President Trump to rescind DACA yet again shows us the cruelty and ugliness of his Administration. Instead of displaying leadership on this issue and working with Congress on a solution rather than ending the program, the President has again given in to his worst instincts and supported the voices of hate and bigotry.
“If President Trump actually took the time to talk to DREAMers, he would know that they are proud Americans who contribute to and grow our economy -- they are our neighbors, our friends, and members of our military. They are nurses, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Most were brought here as very young children and worked hard to become responsible community members.
“Forcing these young people to leave the only home they have ever known will needlessly destroy hundreds of thousands of families. Speaker Ryan and House Republicans must immediately bring up legislation to protect DREAMers from the Trump Administration’s heartless decision. Until then, DREAMers should know that the doors to my office are always open to anyone in need of assistance and my office will always be a safe haven.”
House Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA, 5th)
“I’ve long said I didn’t agree with the way the previous administration went about enacting DACA, but we must protect children who are already here in this country and those who are currently protected under DACA. That principle is fundamental for me. It’s also clear that we must work in Congress to provide long-term certainty for DACA recipients, like those here in Eastern Washington, and recognize their unique circumstances and the value they bring to the country as students, job-holders, members of the military, and members of society. I’m committed to working with my colleagues in the House to establish common sense policies for children of immigrants, policies that recognize that many of these children came to our country at no fault of their own.”
House Representative Luke Messer (R-IA, 6th)
“Hoosiers want us to follow the Constitution and uphold our immigration laws. President Trump’s decision today is a step toward finally addressing illegal immigration in our country,” Messer said. “Let's remember, President Obama's decision to unilaterally rewrite our laws was illegal. Now, Congress has its chance to pass legislation that secures our border, restores rule of law and delivers on our promises to the American people. The details of any legislation addressing DACA’s phase out will matter, and I am eager to get to work on a solution.”
House Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA, 6th)
“DACA has allowed thousands of innocent children to come out of the shadows and get their rightful shot at the American Dream. Repealing DACA puts our friends, neighbors, colleagues, students, and service members at risk of deportation. It is cruel and unusual, and clearly motivated purely by anti-immigrant political pandering. We should be working together, the President and Congress, Democrats and Republicans, on comprehensive immigration reform that includes improved border security and an earned path to citizenship for those who are already part of our communities. I condemn any attempt to repeal DACA and will fight to protect it.”
House Representative Grace Napolitano (D-CA, 32nd)
“DACA has opened the door for the nearly 800,000 DREAMers who have come forward, passed background checks, and have been granted permission to live and work legally in America without the fear of being deported. Many have already been able to fulfill their dreams of attending and completing college and are working legally, paying taxes and contributing to their communities. Over three-quarters of a million young people kept their promise to the only nation they know and love, only to see that nation turn its back on them. This is unconscionable.
“Instead of working with Congress to find a solution, President Trump cowered to the most extreme, divisive voices in our country. With a change of heart from the compassion he pledged to show to DACA recipients, he is now stripping away their protection and peace of mind while heightening their fears. It is what many Congressional Republicans long sought to do: undercut the stability, hope, and opportunity that the DACA program offered to millions of children. We fought tirelessly against these attacks and will not rest until justice is delivered. We stand with these courageous DREAMers who deserve our support and every opportunity to succeed. Congress must act urgently to protect DREAMers and immigrant families from this heartless decision by the President.”
House Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ, 1st)
“DACA improves the lives of young people who know no other country than America and it helps grow the American economy.
“The Administration’s heartless decision could force hundreds of thousands of young people out of the workforce, upend the lives of families and create disruptions for businesses across the country. Any of these effects individually would make the decision ill-advised – together they are unconscionable.
“We need comprehensive immigration reform – like the plan that passed the Senate in 2015 – that provides a pathway to citizenship and enhances our security. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on this, but until it happens, I strongly urge the President to reconsider.
“This decision goes against American values and undermines the fact that America is a nation of immigrants.”
House Representative Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ, 1st)
“Over the past eight months, I have had the chance to meet with many young Arizona DREAMers who have been given the chance to pursue the American Dream due, in part, to the DACA program. These hardworking men and women have had the opportunity to receive a college education, find meaningful jobs, and most importantly, give back to the country they call home,” said Rep. O’Halleran. “President Trump’s decision to end DACA is troubling, and it will do real harm to countless families who will be torn apart. It is callous and detrimental to America’s future.”
Implemented in 2012, DACA has allowed young, undocumented immigrants who entered the country as minors to receive renewable work permits and a deferment from deportation for two years. In Arizona, an end to the DACA program would force thousands of young workers out of their jobs and cost the state more than $1.3 billion.
“I am disappointed that the President is unable to see the good that this program has done for the lives of these young people and our economy,” continued O’Halleran. “Now more than ever, Congress must act. I am ready to work alongside my Republican and Democratic colleagues to protect DREAMers and pass bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform.”
House Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ, 6th)
“President Trump has made it a priority to target immigrants and falsely use them as scapegoats for our nation’s challenges,” said Pallone. “He has now chosen to focus his hateful policies on those who entered our country as minors and have only known America as their home. Ending DACA is a cruel action that will result in young people being ripped away from their lives and families. Without DACA, they will simply have no home to return to. I know that together we will do everything within our power to fight the Trump administration’s decision.”
“By ending DACA over a six month period, President Trump is also trying to please his base, with the intent on blaming Congress if it does not act. It is the responsibility of Congress to now rise above this political gamesmanship, save DACA and protect DREAMers from this cruel decision.”
House Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA, 20th)
“DREAMers who were brought here as children have proven to be essential to the future of our country. President Trump’s decision to end the DACA program slams the door in the face of countless young people who contribute to the communities in which they have lived for most of their lives. As a result of his decision, these young people will be forced to leave the only country that they have called home and undocumented immigrant families will continue to live in fear of being split up.
“As a nation of immigrants, we must continue to support those who positively contribute to our country and have the vision and the drive to make it better. That is why, as a nation of laws, Congress must work together to pass bipartisan legislation to allow DREAMers to continue to work, contribute to, and live in this country. On the central coast of California, we understand and appreciate that our community is stronger because of the contributions made by people willing to come to this country and improve our society.”
House Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ, 9th)
"Attorney General Sessions gave a shameful presentation that stroked a false narrative of DACA recipients and President Trump showed cowardice for not announcing his decision himself. Ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative is a deliberate and unjust act of cruelty," Rep Pascrell said. "By placing nearly 800,000 young immigrant workers lives in limbo, this decision will tear families apart, do nothing to improve our broken immigration system, and wipe out one and a half billion dollars in New Jersey’s economy alone."
"President Trump just lit a fuse under hard-working, tax-paying young Americans and he’s leaving it to Congress to put it out. DACA was always meant to be a temporary initiative, and Congress must respond immediately by creating a permanent legislative solution to protect the American dream for these aspiring Americans," Rep Pascrell said. "As Congress works to achieve this goal, I will continue fighting any effort to use these dreamers as a bargaining chip to further the Republican Party’s anti-immigration agenda."
House Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM, 2nd)
“We in New Mexico understand the harmful and damaging effects that temporary patchwork solutions to our nation’s immigration system can have on families. This kind of flawed reform fails to provide certainty and leaves millions with an illusion of hope. Since arriving in Congress, I have fought to make reforms to our nation’s immigration policies so that the system is fair and just for all. The truth is, the current DACA program is a short-term solution that does not achieve these goals. It is only a temporary fix for millions of young adults who have only ever known the United States as home. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress for fairness, justice, and family unity, and will fight for a permanent change for DREAMERS that ensures both current and future generations do not face the same challenges and burdens.”
House Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA, 12th)
“President Trump’s decision to end DACA is a deeply shameful act of political cowardice and a despicable assault on innocent young people in communities across America. Deporting DREAMers means destroying the lives of hundreds of thousands of patriotic young people, costing the economy billions and betraying the fundamental values of the American Dream.
“The President’s cruel and heartless decision to start deporting DREAMers in six months demands an immediate response from the Republican Congress. Speaker Ryan and the Republican House leadership must bring the DREAM Act to the floor for a vote without delay.”
House Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-CO, 7th)
“The Trump Administration’s decision to end DACA is disgraceful. We are a nation of immigrants and a nation of opportunity but the administration has pulled the rug out from under these folks leaving them with the fear of being separated from their family and the only life they’ve ever known.
“Terminating this program goes against our values as a country and only panders to a narrow group of the President’s base supporters. It will also have a disastrous impact on our economy. Nearly 800,000 DREAMers, including 17,000 in Colorado, have benefitted from this program and are employed or getting an education. The loss of this program equates to a loss of roughly 700,000 jobs and billions in economic output. These individuals are our friends, neighbors, classmates and colleagues, and they contribute to and enrich our society every day.
“President Obama signed the Executive Order authorizing the DACA program largely because Congress wasn’t acting on comprehensive immigration reform. I strongly disagree with President Trump’s decision to end this program but it is now more important than ever that Congress acts quickly to protect these individuals.”
House Representative Scott Peters (D-CA, 52nd)
“President Trump, in a display of total and complete cowardice, has outsourced the announcement to end DACA to the Attorney General – a remarkable abdication of responsibility for the heartlessness of an action that leaves 800,000 lives in the balance.
“Ending DACA is unbelievably cruel and it is un-American. It will also immediately damage our economic interests.
“Expelling hundreds of thousands of people who have known no home but the United States makes us weaker and diminishes our standing in the eyes of the world.
“Failures in leadership have led us to this point. Republicans in Congress refused to even allow a vote on comprehensive immigration reform in 2013 that would have protected DREAMers, which is what led to the creation of DACA in the first place.
“Facing this urgent deadline, Congress must finally step up, work together, and do its job. We must move swiftly to protect DREAMers and provide them and their employers with the certainty they deserve. If Congress does not act by March 6th, 2018, it is complicit in this economic and moral catastrophe.”
House Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME, 1st)
“Yet again President Trump has created a crisis that Congress must solve. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including Speaker Ryan, urged the President not to walk away from our promise to DREAMers, and now we must work together in order to clean up the mess he’s made. Putting the futures of 800,000 young people enrolled in DACA into limbo is irresponsible and inhumane. Nearly one hundred Maine residents will be immediately impacted by President Trump’s decision to deport young people who grew up here and are contributing members of our communities, and countless more minors will be forced into the shadows because DHS will no longer accept new DACA applications. Not only is it cruel to deport people to a country they wouldn’t even recognize, it would be a major disruption to our economy. I hope the House will act swiftly to pass legislation to give DREAMers a pathway to remain in the only country they’ve ever known.”
House Representative Bruce Poliquin (R-MN, 2nd)
“Congress has waited far too long to act on serious border security and to implement an effective system to control who enters our county. It’s the federal government’s responsibility to establish immigration laws that work for current American families while welcoming those wanting to become law-abiding citizens of the United States.
“America is a country of immigrants, like my own family. However, no President can simply side-step Congress and create immigration laws on his or her own. The Constitution is clear that the Legislative branch is responsible for passing laws to be presented to the President for signature. The Obama Administration acted illegally in creating the DACA program in 2012. I strongly opposed this action—joining a resolution condemning it—because it was unconstitutional and a violation of executive power. Now, the current Administration is facing legal challenges from several states if the DACA policy continues.
“As someone who raised my son mostly as a single dad, I am particularly sensitive to the fact that a young child has little or no control over the movements of his or her family. A child should not be held responsible for the actions of parents who chose to break our immigration laws.
“There are nearly 800,000 people in the current DACA program, including 35,000 in New England. Some of these individuals grew up believing they were Americans with no knowledge of their parents’ actions. I believe if these people have been fully law-abiding members of our society, they should be protected from deportation through legislative action by Congress. At the same time, we need to continue to secure and control our borders. We need to continue our work to end illegal immigration.
“Congress must act to improve our border security; to find a solution to address those well-meaning individuals now caught in DACA status; and to update our immigration policies which reduce incentives to break the law. America can continue to be a nation of laws, border security, and controlled immigration.”
House Representative Jared Polis (D-CO, 2nd)
“Today I am outraged that more than 17,000 Coloradans, who I consider my fellow Americans, got the news that their lives have dramatically altered by a callous and short-sighted decision of our president. By ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, President Trump has cast nearly one million aspiring Americans back into the shadows,” said Polis.
“The situation is dire. These aspiring Americans belong here, and they should have the ability to use their talents and pursue their dreams. I have had the honor of meeting and getting to know inspiring dreamers like Oscar, a dreamer who attended President Trump’s first State of the Union with me and wants to serve his country in our military if only we will let him; and Brithany, a CSU student who is active in her community by working as a nurse assistant in a dementia ward; as well as many many other dreamers who I will advocate for in Congress. It is past time for Congress to rise to the occasion, and do its job by creating a permanent solution to help this population, and that is why I will continue to advocate for the American Hope Act or other legislation to create a permanent way out of the shadows for Brithany, Oscar, and so many others whose stories are just as inspiring.”
House Representative David Price (D-NC, 4th)
“President Trump’s shameful decision to rescind the DACA program puts the futures of 800,000 young Americans at risk. This callous decision isn’t just a betrayal of ‘DREAMers’ in North Carolina and across the country; it is a betrayal of the very idea of the American dream. These young people were brought to our country without their consent and have known no other country as their own. They are our neighbors, our classmates, our colleagues, and members of our Armed Services. They pledge allegiance to our flag, pay our taxes, and contribute to our economy.
President Trump has said repeatedly that he would treat DREAMers with ‘great heart.’ While we have become accustomed to his broken promises, this may be his most heartless decision yet.
Make no mistake: today’s announcement was driven entirely by cynical political calculations, not by any constitutional or legal requirement. But now that the decision has been made, Congress must act to fix it. In 2010, I voted with my colleagues in the House to pass the DREAM Act, only to see Senate Republicans defeat the measure. House leadership must bring the DREAM Act, or equivalent legislation, back to the floor for a vote without delay. We must protect these families from the anguish and suffering inflicted by the Trump Administration’s mass deportation agenda.”
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