December 19, 2017

Castro Calls for Passage of Clean DREAM Act

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement urging passage of a clean DREAM Act before the end of the year:

“More than 12,000 young people have lost their protection from deportation and ability to work since the Trump Administration rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in September. Each day that Congress fails to act, 122 Dreamers lose their status. DREAMers came out of the shadows in good faith with the understanding that the country they call home would not turn its back on them.

I urge my Republican colleagues to work with Democrats to pass a permanent legislative solution that will protect the nearly 800,000 DREAMers who live in the United States, including the 120,000 DREAMers who reside in Texas. The passage of the DREAM Act is a priority and must be included in the spending bill that Congress needs to approve by December 22nd. These brave young people cannot wait any longer.

Texas has the second largest number of DACA recipients in the country. Dreamers are upstanding young people who are students, service members in our military, teachers, and businesspeople contributing to our economy. It is in Texas’ and the United States’ best interests that they receive permanent protection to remain in this nation.”

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