WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:
“Today’s decision reaffirms the important protections of the DACA program, and demonstrates for once and for all that President Trump and Stephen Miller’s efforts to punish DREAMers and get rid of DACA were not just morally wrong but also legally wrong. DREAMers are members of virtually every community throughout our nation, and they are American in every way except for a piece of paper.
“Today’s decision should also be a stark reminder that DACA recipients’ fate never should have been at the whim of this president or this court in the first place. Leader McConnell must also act immediately to bring the Dream And Promise Act of 2019 to the floor and protect DACA recipients. The House passed this bill over a year ago, and it has languished in the legislative graveyard of the Senate. Dozens of senators on both sides of the aisle have stated that they stand with DREAMers. Now is the moment to match words with action and ensure that DREAMers never have to live through this legal limbo again. Extending permanent protections to DREAMers is not just the right thing to do for them—it is the right thing to do for our entire nation, which benefits every day from their contributions.
“DREAMers have been allowed a sigh of relief today. Let us look forward and work to pass sensible policies for DREAMers, their families, and a better, stronger, and fairer America.”
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