Source: House of Representatives
Below are Statements from House Representatives about DACA Continued from page 1. (Check back for updates on this page)
House Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA, 30th)
“I strongly disagree with Donald Trump’s announced changes to the DACA program and his administration’s immigration policies,” said Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks). “I have been very public in my disdain for various actions of the Trump Administration, and have introduced Articles of Impeachment for separate reasons.”
Sherman continued, “Under the policy just released by the Administration it is critically important that those with DACA work permits that expire on or before March 5, 2018, apply for renewal immediately—I urge you not to wait until the October 5, 2017, deadline.”
House Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA, 9th)
“There wouldn’t be a DACA debate if our country didn’t have a serious problem with illegal immigration. While President Obama’s solution was to create policy without Congress, offering amnesty without real action to address the root cause, President Trump is making the correct decision to allow Congress to legislate and return to constitutional order.
“The real issue at hand is there are millions of individuals in the United States illegally. Congress needs to address the cause, not just the symptom, and curb illegal immigration. The DACA debate is an important reminder that increasing border security and enforcing immigration laws have to be top priorities for the 115th Congress.”
House Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ, 8th)
“The President’s cruel and reprehensible decision to end DACA with a six month delay is inhumane and devastating for families and communities across the country. In doing so, the President is also hurting our economy and our national security while diverting critical law enforcement efforts that should be focused on those who pose a true danger to public safety. Since it was launched in 2012, DACA has helped hundreds of thousands of eligible young people come out of the shadows to better themselves and their communities without the fear of being separated from their loved ones and sent to a place of which they might have no memory.
This decision targets millions of hardworking people who were brought here as young children and know no country but America as their home. DACA recipients are our neighbors, friends, and colleagues. They are students, doctors, engineers, and leaders in our military who are dedicated to our nation. Just this week, we saw how far this dedication goes when Alonso Guillén, a DACA recipient, tragically lost his life while rescuing people stranded in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. America was built on the hard work of immigrants and our diversity is part of the foundation of our nation. Unlike the President, I will not abandon the nearly 800,000 DREAMers who have put their trust in our government and who contribute to our society every day.
This decision is another manifestation of the President’s anti-immigrant rhetoric that has emboldened hatred, racism, and bigotry. Following last month’s pardon of Joe Arpaio, who built his career on targeting and tormenting Latinos, today’s announcement shows that the President will continue this divisive and unconscionable pattern. It is insulting for him to use the rule of law as justification for ending DACA when he rapidly pardoned a man who routinely violated the rights of Latinos and ignored the directives of the court.
It is long past time for Congress to step up and protect the thousands of families that will be torn apart because of the President’s indefensible decision. We must pass legislation to ensure DACA recipients are protected and work to create comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken immigration system in a way that treats those coming to this country in search for a better life with dignity and respect. I want to repeat my commitment to the nearly 800,000 DREAMers and their families who have been heartlessly abandoned by the Executive Branch.”
House Representative Adam Smith (D-WA, 9th)
"Ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is irresponsible and contradicts who we are as Americans. DACA provides deportation relief to almost 800,000 immigrants, nearly 18,000 of who live in Washington state. These immigrant youth, known as DREAMers, represent a generation of immigrants who were brought to our country as children, through no fault of their own. Today, DREAMers are actively pursuing the American dream in many fields, including serving as members of the Armed Forces, and becoming teachers and doctors. President Trump’s decision to end DACA breaks our country’s promise of deportation relief to these law-abiding immigrant youth. This decision will only serve to tear families apart and undermine the important contributions of these young people to our country and our economy.
"I am committed to supporting immigrant youth and keeping families together, and will fight with my colleagues in Congress, along with Governor Inslee and Attorney General Ferguson in Washington state to defend DACA. In response to the President’s failure of leadership in ending DACA, Congress must keep our country’s promise to DREAMers and stay true to our American values."
House Representative Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska, 3rd)
“President Trump is correct – the DACA program violated the separation of powers established by our Constitution and should never have been created through executive action. This and many other aspects of our broken immigration system, such as border security, have gone too long without being addressed. Congress and the President must come together to create strong, permanent immigration policies rooted in the rule of law.”
House Representative Jason Smith (R-MO, 8th)
"I look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion with my colleagues in the House and Senate to craft a humane legislative solution to protect individuals brought to the U.S. as children and at the same time advancing important reforms in our broken immigration system."
House Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX, 21st)
“Today President Trump delivered on his promise to the American people. He said he would discontinue DACA, which allows hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to stay in the country and gives them work permits.
“By ending the unconstitutional DACA program he has overturned the last of the Obama Administration’s amnesty agenda and returned to the rule of law. President Obama, a former Constitutional law professor, said many times that DACA was unconstitutional. Congress and the administration should strengthen our laws against illegal immigration and ensure that our immigration policies put unemployed Americans first. The U.S. labor participation rate is at a 40 year low.
“President Trump is right not to continue the DACA program and to force Congress to address immigration policies, including securing the border.”
House Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA, 16th)
“I have had countless discussions with DREAMers in Pennsylvania who are active and positive residents of our commonwealth. I agree with President Trump’s administration that there should be a legislative solution instead of a DHS directive that was never intended to be a permanent fix.”
House Representative Chris Stewart (R-UT, 2nd)
“While well intentioned, the way the Obama administration went about enacting DACA was unconstitutional. Authority to alter immigration law clearly only lies within the purview of Congress. Nonetheless, I believe that we must protect those individuals who came to this country as children. I’m a cosponsor of two pieces of legislation that will continue to protect children of undocumented immigrants. These include the BRIDGE Act and the ENLIST Act. These bills bar the removal of individuals who were brought here under the age of 15 that are currently pursuing education, have recently graduated, or are serving in the armed forces. I look forward to Congress authorizing a long-term, legislative solution to this important and pressing problem.”
House Representative Steve Stivers (R-OH, 15th)
"Today's announcement puts the power back with Congress, where it belongs. Congress has six months to take action to create a permanent, legal and orderly immigration system - which includes addressing DACA recipients.
“While we are a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws. Moving forward, I support a legislative solution to fix our broken immigration system and facilitate economic growth."
House Representative Mark Takano (D-CA, 41st)
“President Trump’s decision to end the DACA program is a case study in cruelty and cowardice. If the president believes – like a vast majority of Americans – that law-abiding and productive young immigrants should not be thrown out of the country, then he should have stood by the DACA program. Instead, nearly one million young people will be forced to live in fear of the future because President Trump lives in fear of upsetting the extreme ideologues in his base.
“Dreamers are our co-workers, classmates, and neighbors. Their families are here. They have built their lives here. For many of these young people, America is the only country they have ever called home. Turning our backs on Dreamers is a stain on America’s conscience and an affront to common decency. It is un-American.
“Ending DACA will also severely damage our economy. More than 90 percent of the young immigrants protected through the DACA program are in the workforce. They strengthen our communities, contribute to our economy, and embody the power of immigration to support American prosperity. This decision could cost California $11 billion every year, according to a study by the Center for American Progress.
“Republicans in Congress have expressed support for DACA kids with their words, but not through their actions. Now is their chance to do what is right. Congress must stand with these young people and demonstrate that – at its heart – America is a fair, strong, and compassionate nation.”
House Representative Scott Taylor (R VA, 2nd)
While benevolent and well intended, it was illegal for President Obama to create this program; a President does not create laws. Therefore, President Trump is right to put the authority back into the hands of Congress. I believe Congress should create, negotiate, and pass a law protecting those in this stateless limbo, which should contain disincentives to future illegal immigrants from attempting the same and border security measures. There are DACA recipients who are as American as myself. Americans do not punish children for their parents' sins. Under this Congress and this President we have returned to proper immigration enforcement and significantly reduced border crossings. Now is our time in Congress to lead with justice, mercy, and compassion on this issue.
House Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS, 2nd)
"Just when you thought this President and his craven Administration couldn't stoop any lower, they now go after the most vulnerable. This is an atrocious and heartless decision to end a program that gave hope to nearly a million, brought them out of the shadows, and allowed them to contribute to the only country they know. It is truly sad that we have a severely unpopular President that all too often is unable to do the right thing and refuses to show his face to defend this mean-spirited decision. He should be focusing on real homeland security matters and getting dangerous criminals off our streets rather than throwing red meat to his base. This will do nothing to improve national security and will only cause more chaos and break up families.”
“Congress must quickly come together, in bipartisan force, to stop this President and permanently protect those that came to this country under no fault of their own and are now a part of our society and economy. Democrats will stand firm together to protect DREAMers and Republicans must show they are willing to do the same. Denying them protection not only runs against our values and damages the economy, but will be permanent stain on our history."
House Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA, 5th)
“I strongly condemn President Trump’s decision to end the DACA initiative, creating fear and confusion for the 800,000 DREAMers in the United States.
“DREAMers embody and practice the best of our American values: hard work, patriotism, and action. They are our neighbors, colleagues, soldiers, educators, engineers, doctors, and entrepreneurs. They are as much a part of our communities and collective American story as any one of us.
“I urge President Trump to reconsider this decision and act to defend DREAMers as he’s previously promised to do. As a Member of Congress, I will continue to do everything I can to protect DREAMers, including calling on House Republicans to bring the DREAM Act to the Floor for a vote.”
House Representative Pat Tiberi (R-OH, 12th)
“President Obama’s unconstitutional DACA program was one of the most egregious examples of his executive overreach. The Trump administration’s decision to phase out DACA is good news for the rule of law.
“As the son of immigrants who legally came to the United States from Italy, I have seen the success story of legal immigration firsthand. In order to ensure this country remains a beacon of hope we must adhere to the Constitution, which empowers Congress to write immigration laws, not the executive branch. Congress has six months to act. This is an opportunity for us to identify needed solutions that are fair and orderly for Dreamers who didn’t choose to break our laws and know no other home than America.”
House Representative Scott Tipton (R-CO, 3rd)
“President Obama circumvented the Constitution when he unilaterally created the DACA program without going through the legislative process. Today’s announcement by Attorney General Sessions shows this administration’s commitment to the rule of law. While I do not support the unilateral DACA program, I believe Congress must act to develop a compassionate and commonsense solution for the children who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents. These individuals have grown up in the United States and are now upstanding, valued members of our communities. They should not be punished for a decision that was made by their parents years ago.”
House Representative Paul D. Tonko (D-NY, 20th)
Earlier today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump Administration will move forward with ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. I strongly oppose this decision.
Ending DACA is inhumane and un-American. This hurts our economy, damages our standing as a leading nation, and betrays nearly 800,000 young people who have known no other home than America.
I was proud to vote for the DREAM Act when it came before Congress in 2010. I have openly supported Senate efforts to advance comprehensive immigration reform. While I strongly disagree with President Trump’s decision to imperil the fate of hundreds of thousands of dreamers for the sake of scoring political points, I now call on my colleagues in Congress to fix this mess by taking up legislation to protect dreamers and passing it without delay.
Whatever your politics on immigration, these "dreamers" did not choose their birthplace or their path. They have grown up going to school with our children and they share our values and our principles. They believe in the American dream. With hard work and commitment, they have become nurses, doctors, engineers, leaders in their fields and advocates for the voiceless. They are joining the ranks of innovators and job creators powering the U.S. economy and creating opportunity for all Americans.
A just nation does not take lightly the judgment of innocents. Let us not discard our friends and our neighbors for the sake of political theater, not when we can instead draw strength of heart and mind and treasure from their experience, their differences, and the many values we share in common.
E Pluribus Unum.
House Representative Norma Torres (D-CA, 35th)
“Todays’ announcement is a betrayal of American values and a needless attack on thousands of hardworking young people who want nothing more than an opportunity to contribute to this country. 800,000 young people have benefited from DACA. These are not faceless names – they are our neighbors, our friends, our family. They own businesses in our community and go to school with our children. Perhaps most disturbingly – those who enrolled in the DACA program did so voluntarily and took the word of the federal government in exchange for coming out of the shadows. Rescinding the DACA program will mean breaking our word to these brave young people.
“DACA was never meant as a permanent fix to our nation’s broken immigration system, but as a common sense measure to direct our federal resources to where they are needed most. However, President Trump has shown no ability or desire to get us any closer to fixing the problems we know must be addressed and has instead chosen to rally his base while weakening our national security by wasting resources on breaking up families.
“Now is the time for all Americans to come together and make it clear to President Trump that we will not turn our back on our neighbors. It is the responsibility of Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to protect Dreamers and begin fixing our broken immigration system. I urge Speaker Ryan and Republicans in Congress to take this up immediately. There is no reason to wait.”
House Representative Fred Upton (R-MI, 6th)
“For these young men and women, the United States is their home. They’ve been raised in our neighborhoods, attended our schools, served in our military, and worked in our communities. I’ve met with countless concerned individuals impacted by DACA and heard from local universities, restaurant and small business owners, as well as my farmer friends who all agree we must take care of these folks. This is why I’ve long-supported using a compassionate but accountable way to legislatively address these undocumented minors brought to our country through no fault of their own.
“Rather than executive order, it is the responsibility of Congress to work together on fair, rigorous, and bipartisan legislation that addresses the long-term uncertainty facing these young people. To that end, I have already co-sponsored two bills that represent common-sense ways to address DACA. In the coming weeks and months I will continue to work with anyone to fix our long-broken immigration system and to give certainty to Dreamers who know no country but America.”
House Representative David Valadao (R-CA, 21st)
"For years, Congress has failed to repair our broken immigration system. However, in light of the President’s announcement, Congress must come together within the next six months to reach a legislative solution.
I will continue to advocate on behalf of dreamers. America is the only home these young people know and I will do everything in my power to ensure those who were brought to the United States through no fault of their own are not unjustly punished."
Since being elected to Congress, Congressman Valadao has remained dedicated to repairing the broken immigration system of the United States. His personal connection to immigration, combined with the serious impact policy change will have on his constituents, have provided Valadao with a deep understanding of the issue, especially as it relates to agriculture and our guest worker program.
In 2013, Valadao was one of only three Republicans to support an immigration reform package, H.R. 15; the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. In 2015, he voted against a defense bill amendment which sought to block undocumented youth from serving in the military. Most recently, Valadao cosponsored H.R. 496, the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act and H.R. 1468, the Recognizing America’s Children (RAC) Act which provides a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.
House Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA, 51st)
“President Trump is advancing his extremist, anti-immigrant agenda by terminating the DACA program and breaking a promise our country made to nearly 800,000 DREAMers.
“Before DACA, young people brought to this country as children were forced to live in the shadows with the fear of being separated from their families and deported from the country they call home. DACA gave these DREAMers an opportunity to step forward with hope, go through a background check process, and have the ability to work legally, get an education, serve the country they love, and make many positive contributions to their communities.
“By terminating DACA, President Trump is undermining a successful program and ignoring bipartisan efforts to support DREAMers. The President and his Administration are betraying the values that make America great and turning the lives of families across the country into a nightmare. Congress must act and pass legislation that will protect these young people from a President who is attempting to put an end to their American dream.”
House Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX, 33rd)
“President Trump has made it perfectly clear that he is more than willing to sacrifice the immigrant community to appease his nativist base. His latest decision to end the successful DACA program will uproot the lives of nearly 800,000 young immigrants, including the over 200,000 young Texans who have been able to peacefully work, study, and contribute to our economy since the program’s start. The DREAMers I have spoken with all share that their DACA status changed their lives for the better and allowed them to better participate in the only country they’ve ever called home.
America will feel President Trump’s decision to turn his backs on talented and hardworking young people for years to come. The end of DACA means young people will start to lose jobs, leave colleges and universities, and once again be forced back into the shadows. Families will scramble to move from addresses contained in DACA applications and businesses across the country will begin to lose valued employees. Texas alone can expect a $6.2 billion loss annually as DACA workers are removed from the work force.
DREAMers are Americans in all senses of the word, except on paper. They are our children’s classmates, our neighbors, and have worked alongside us to make our country an even better place. President Trump should be ashamed that he has chosen to trample on the American Dream in favor of slamming the door of opportunity in the face of some of our nation’s brightest. I remain committed to standing up alongside my fellow House Democrats as we fight to keep families together.”
House Representative Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY, 7th)
“The President previously said that Dreamers have little reason to worry because he has a ‘big heart.’ Today’s decision belies that statement and makes clear the callous and hateful ideology that is driving this Administration’s policies.
“800,000 young Americans now face the threat of deportation. And, yes, these are Americans. Many of them have known no other home. Some of them speak only English and many came here when they were so young that they cannot even remember the journey. Their parents brought them here in search of a better life, seeking that simple, but uniquely American compact – the promise that America is the land of opportunity, where anyone with a dream and the right talent and perseverance can succeed. Today, Donald Trump has turned his back on that proud tradition.
“Not only is this decision a moral affront, but this policy, if it takes effect, will cause billions of dollars of economic damage. It is telling that business leaders from a range of sectors have united in opposition DACA’s rescission.
“Where the President has failed to show moral leadership, Congress must step forward. In coming weeks, I will be working with my Democratic colleagues to push the Republican Leadership to allow for an up-or-down vote on a clean ‘DREAM Act’, so these young people – the face of America – are protected.”
House Representative Greg Walden (R-OR, 2nd)
"I’ve long been a supporter of stronger security on America’s borders -- countries that do not have control of their borders do not have control of their national security. That is what will lead us to much-needed immigration reform, and it is vital to fixing our broken system.
America’s legal immigration system, like other federal bureaucracies, is in need of reform. The current system does not work, and it is past time for Congress to act on this issue.
Like all Americans, I have compassion for those who entered our country unlawfully as children and are now in limbo in our immigration system. These are kids who know no other country as their home and were brought here through no fault of their own at a young age. It is up to Congress to find a permanent solution.
I appreciate that President Trump recognizes the need for Congress to act to address this problem. As we move forward, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the administration to secure our borders and fix our flawed immigration system."
House Representative Jackie Walorski (R-IN, 2nd)
“President Obama clearly exceeded his executive authority in creating the DACA program, and now President Trump is restoring the proper constitutional role of the legislative and executive branches. Our immigration system is broken, and we have an opportunity to address this issue, secure our borders, and strengthen enforcement. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the president to find a long-term, commonsense solution.”
House Representative MiMi Walters (R-CA, 45th)
“The Constitution mandates that Congress, not the President, write the laws. DACA, while well intentioned, was an unconstitutional abuse of executive power. Our Nation and our government cannot function unless we uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.
"It is now up to Congress to develop a permanent legislative solution to provide certainty to the young people who were brought to America as children without the proper documents through no fault of their own. America is the only home most of these young people have ever known and it is unjust to punish them for the actions of their parents. Congress should work to ensure their residency so that they can continue to contribute to our community and strengthen our Nation.”
House Representative Timothy J. Walz (D-MN, 1st)
“Today’s announcement does not reflect the values of our nation. Let me be clear: these children are Americans. This is their home. Deporting DREAMers, who contribute much to our society, harms our economy and our moral fabric,” said Rep. Tim Walz. “Congress must act. I call on Speaker Ryan and my Republican colleagues, some of whom have already expressed their support for DACA, to act immediately. This moment requires them to put their country and human decency over politics and I stand ready to work with them.”
House Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL, 23rd)
“President Trump’s heartless, cowardly decision to eliminate the DACA program will spread anxiety and chaos throughout communities across the nation. It is yet another cruel, unnecessary and divisive policy move by this White House. Instead of providing promise, stability and opportunity to millions of young people, Trump has done the opposite, and made the American dream more elusive for those who have already given so much to this nation. DREAMers have served in our armed services, rescued Harvey victims, studied with our children in classrooms, and for years worked and played in our neighborhoods. Republicans have left DREAMers twisting in the wind for too long. Speaker Paul Ryan must bring legislation advancing a pathway to citizenship to a floor vote this week, and remove this cloud of uncertainty and distress Trump has placed over the lives of hundreds of thousands of families.”
House Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ, 12th)
“This Administration’s announcement to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy flies in the face of our nation’s values and interests, breaks the promise we made to thousands of families and undermines the programs proven nationwide benefits. Instead of making a true and concerted effort at immigration reform, the President sent Attorney General Sessions to the podium to break his promise to the over 800,000 men and women who only know this country as home.
This is a betrayal of the men and women who make up the fabric of this nation - the over 800,000 young people who are doctors, teacher and public servants. People like Alonso Guillen who gave his life trying to rescue victims of damages caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston. This Administration isn’t interested in the invaluable contributions DREAMers make to our economy and communities, but instead, is focused on rallying the xenophobic base that fuels the flames of their discrimination.
The onslaught of injustice continues under this President and it is imperative that Congress does not sit idly by while this Administration continues to trample upon American values. The time for the tweets and empty statements is over. I am ready to work with my Republican colleagues on creating permanent protections for DREAMers. Republican House leadership must bring the DREAM Act to the floor for a vote. Hundreds of thousands of lives depend on it.”
House Representative Bruce Westerman (R AR, 4th)
“No matter how compassionate its intent, President Obama’s creation of DACA was a clear violation of our separation of powers,” Westerman said. “As Attorney General Sessions said today, the Justice Department could not make a clear and compelling defense for an executive action that was outside the Constitutional authority granted to the President. Congress writes our nation’s laws and President Trump has tasked us with addressing this issue in coming months as he winds down the DACA program. It is my hope that we construct a fair and just legislative solution to this issue that affects many aspects of our society and many people who live here.”
House Representative Frederica Wilson (D-FL, 24th)
“President Trump’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in my view crosses a moral red line and is an antithesis to our nation’s values. Stripping hope and opportunity from the nearly 800,000 DREAMers who were brought to here as children is unconscionable. They are American in every way but one; for many, the United States is the only home they know. Rather than hide in the shadows, they went through a lengthy process to get permission to live and work legally in the United States. Many are students, while others have chosen to serve in the military to help keep our nation safe. Breaking our promise to them turns their dreams into a collective nightmare and hurts not just them, but also the American economy. Florida, for example, will lose nearly 30,000 workers and $1,524,721,538 in state GDP if the program ends.
“The president’s decision to begin deporting DACA recipients in six months is both cruel and unnecessary. I urge the Republican leadership in Congress to bring the DREAM Act to the floor for a vote as soon as possible. It’s the right thing to do.”
House Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC, 2nd)
“I stand with President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions' decision for termination of the unconstitutional DACA program, which is a threat to American jobs.”
“President Trump is courageously acting in accordance with the Constitution and living up to his campaign promise to follow the law. This step by the Trump Administration will create additional jobs for American families.”
House Representative Steve Womack (R-AR, 3rd)
“The issue of DACA-eligible young people is a manifestation of a broken immigration enforcement system. I have a heart for their plight. At the same time, I believe that part of the genius of America is that we are a nation of laws. The President is right; Congress has the responsibility to address this issue and now is the time to do so. With thoughtful debate, jobs can be protected, lawful immigration can be championed, and the proper relief can come for the young people who know only America as their country and who continue to work hard to achieve that American dream.”
House Representative Robert Woodall (R-GA, 7th)
"Laws can only be made by the President and the Congress working together. That is what the Constitution requires. President Obama's ‘go it alone’ approach was always going to end with the anxiety that DACA participants are experiencing today, and I applaud President Trump for committing to work with Congress on real, permanent solutions."
House Representative John A. Yarmuth (D-KY, 3rd)
“President Trump’s decision to terminate the DACA program and upend the lives of more than 800,000 innocent young people—nearly all of whom have never called any country home but the United States of America—is cruel, inhumane, and harmful to us all. These are people who were brought here as children, played by the rules, and earned diplomas. They contribute to their communities and participate in a workforce that wants and needs them. Denying them the opportunity to continue to live the only lives they know and to tear them away from their families simply to placate the savage demands of political extremists is morally bankrupt. These young people did everything asked of them. If we want to be a country that lives by our ideals, that rewards merit and hard work, it is our obligation to reject the president's heartless decision."
House Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS, 3rd)
"I have great sympathy for minors that were illegally brought to the United States through no fault of their own and who know no other country than the United States of America. We are a nation of immigrants. Yet, we are also a nation that values the rule of law, and President Obama’s DACA order was an unconstitutional abuse of executive authority. The Administration is right to restore proper balance of powers under our Constitution.
"I opposed President Obama's ‘temporary stopgap measure’ as he called it five years ago - in which he said ‘this is not amnesty, this is not immunity, this is not a path to citizenship’ - because it would leave many undocumented immigrants in limbo, with no real status. That has now proven to be the case.
"While the program may have been conceived with good intentions, it has served as a magnet, bringing tens of thousands of new immigrants, exacerbating our illegal immigration challenges, and creating a humanitarian crisis at the border.
"The President has given Congress a six-month window to act on immigration reform, and that's exactly what we should do. We must secure our borders, repair our broken visa program, and provide needed reforms and certainty and stability for minors. We must pursue policies that are both compassionate and restore the rule of law in our country.
"I do not favor deporting 'dreamers' but their status is a decision that can only be made by an act of Congress and should be one that improves our legal immigration process and secures our border. Otherwise we will be left with a piecemeal mess, which is what we have on our hands today.”
House Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL, 3rd)
“The president’s decision to suspend the DACA program after a period of six months is the right thing to do. For decades Washington has failed to address our broken immigration system. For too long Washington has looked the other way and not enforced the existing laws on the books and it has created a complete mess. President Obama’s actions were an abuse of his executive authority and went around the legislative branch. Congress writes the laws, and it is the Executive Branch’s duty to make sure they are faithfully executed.
“For those who came to the United States as children and to no fault of their own, I support a window of time for them to come forward and identify themselves without fear of deportation. I support providing a way for Dreamers who have registered under DACA with DHS to obtain legal status. Such legislation should go hand-in-hand with measures that reduce illegal immigration.
“Congress now has six months to work collectively on a legislative solution that will fix this problem and shield Dreamers from deportation. We owe it to them and all Americans to fix this once and for all.”
House Representative David Young (R-IA, 3rd)
"America is not about one color, one ethnicity or one faith. America is a compassionate nation built on the foundation of self-government, the rule of law, freedom, and the liberties and rights given in our Constitution.
President Obama acknowledged his limited Constitutional authority with his executive order creating DACA. It is now up to Congress to address this matter and other issues related to immigration - from enforcement to employment practices to securing our borders. These are the powers afforded to Congress, not the President, by the Constitution."
House Representative Don Young (R-Alaska)
“The Obama administration’s unilateral actions on immigration, including DACA, undermined the role of Congress and were in complete violation of the Constitution. President Obama stated on numerous occasions that he did not have the power or authority to take additional actions on immigration, yet he did so after Congress chose not to deliver what he wanted, when he wanted.
“Rewriting our immigration laws through Executive Order, as was done under DACA, is not acceptable. These decisions must receive the approval of Congress. Now that President Trump has overturned this Obama-era order, I believe it’s Congress’ responsibility to address our nation’s broken immigration system, including the legal status of those who were brought to our nation through no fault of their own. Regardless of your viewpoint on the underlying policy, all Americans’ should agree these decisions need to be made by Congress and not by the Executive Branch.”
Lee Zeldin (R-NY, 1st)Lee Zeldin (R-NY, 1st)
"The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy was started by the Obama administration in June 2012, allowing illegal immigrants who entered our country as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit.
If the Obama administration wanted to implement the DACA program, it should have made the case to Congress and try to pass it's proposal into law. The administration absolutely did not have the authority to write it's own 'laws'. If the proposal did not have the support to pass then it should not go into effect. That is how our process is designed and must be respected.
I support legal immigration. I oppose illegal immigration. If you want to come to America and pursue the American dream, follow the rules. If you commit a crime and are deported, don't come back. Every nation's backbone is it's rule of law. It is great to pursue the American dream and to consider yourself a 'dreamer' and everyone in the United States legally should consider themselves 'dreamers', but you have to follow our laws. Period. We should not reward or excuse criminal behavior.
Many find the situation related to minors illegally in our country to be the most challenging. Many of these children involuntarily came to our country very young, have been here for a long time, go through our education system, love our country and are looking to stay here and greatly contribute to our economy and nation's future. What I struggle with the most is how you can possibly allow someone illegally in our country to be given preference over someone who is not in our country solely, because that individual abroad is following the rules and respecting our laws and as a result they are not yet here.
I am completely open to a debate in Congress and among the American people on how to strengthen immigration laws in our country. The system is flawed as evidenced by the number of people currently in our country illegally as well as the preferences, protections and benefits awarded to people who are here illegally. My priority will always unapologetically remain with fighting for the people following the laws, rather than the ones breaking them. We can debate with each other who has our priorities set better until we are blue in the face, but that is where my heart, energy and commitment remains.
As far as how to tackle this massive issue, when you have a leak, are you someone who turns off the faucet first or cleans up the leak first? I'm someone who believes that you should turn off the faucet first. We absolutely should attempt to completely resolve the challenges associated with all of the many millions of Americans who are in our country illegally, but not first without ensuring that the challenge doesn't multiply despite anyone's best of intentions to do what in their heart they truly believe is right. I can think of various circumstances where deportation won't be the solution, but a blanket rewarding and incentivizing of bad behavior is going to lead to even more abuse of our immigration system by others.
We must secure the entry process into our country and strengthen interior enforcement. We should pursue common ground on what at all to do with people who are already in our country illegally, but proposals that recklessly actually increase the amount of people in our country illegally and incentivize disrespecting and abusing our laws on the books should not be supported. Let's pursue policies that incentivize respecting and honoring our laws on the books, not the other way around. Let's pursue solutions that better secure our entry process and strengthen interior enforcement so that agreements on what to do with people in our country illegally truly results responsibly in less people in our country illegally over time and not more.
I am very much willing to work with any of my colleagues on either side of the aisle on this issue and others to find common ground however possible. I would also strongly encourage anyone on the opposite side of this debate to keep to themselves the character assassinations, name calling, partisan threats and over the top sound bite spin, because if you truly want to work out an agreement for progress, that is absolutely not at all how to get there. Working together productively and substantively, I am hugely confident that long overdue progress can absolutely be achieved at least in part to move the needle more in the right direction."
