ACLU Comment on Senate Introduction of DREAM Act

WASHINGTON — Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced today the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.

Lorella Praeli, director of immigration policy and campaigns at the American Civil Liberties Union, said:

“In a year characterized by division and partisan politics, this renewed, bipartisan effort to support and protect our undocumented youth emphasizes their movement’s resilience, the extensive common-sense benefits of the DREAM Act, and how widespread public support is for our DREAMer neighbors, friends, and family members.

“Passing the DREAM Act to achieve permanent security for these young immigrants is long overdue, and we thank Senators Durbin and Graham, stalwart allies in the fight, for their leadership.

“However, there must be no confusion: the introduction of DREAM intensifies rather than lessens the need to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. President Trump has told us that whether to preserve or rescind DACA is his decision to make. We urge him to follow his self-described ‘big heart’ and protect undocumented immigrant youth who contribute so much to the United States.

“Until legislation is passed that permanently guarantees the protection of DREAMers, DACA must remain in place. The 2017 DREAM Act, like DACA itself, is the product of many years of advocacy and education in the courts and in the streets: our movement will continue to fight and win.”