Immigrant activists urge Congress to support clean Dream Act
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| Sookyung Oh of NAKASEC holds up a sign urging Sen. Kaine to “stop the empty talk and keep your promise.” |
Dozens of Dreamers and their supporters, led by the
Annandale-based National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC),
disrupted a speech by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) Dec. 20 to urge him to support a clean
Dream Act to protect young immigrants.
Chanting “No dream, no vote” and “Action, not words,” the
activists called on Kaine to vote against passage of a continuing resolution to fund
the federal government unless it includes a clean Dream Act.
activists called on Kaine to vote against passage of a continuing resolution to fund
the federal government unless it includes a clean Dream Act.
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| Sen. Kaine speaks at an Arlington Young Democrats reception. |
Kaine told the crowd at a holiday reception hosted by the Arlington Young Democrats that he would vote for the Dream Act but would not vote to
shut down the government.
shut down the government.
Since Congress failed to pass a budget, it must pass a
continuing resolution by Dec. 22 to avoid a government shutdown. NAKASEC and
other immigrant rights groups have been lobbying Congress for the past two weeks to attach
a clean Dream Act to the continuing resolution.
continuing resolution by Dec. 22 to avoid a government shutdown. NAKASEC and
other immigrant rights groups have been lobbying Congress for the past two weeks to attach
a clean Dream Act to the continuing resolution.
A Dream Act would extend the protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was established by executive order. That program allows youths, known as “dreamers,” who had been brought to the United States as children by undocumented parents, to apply for DACA status, which allows them to work and attend college without fear of deportation. A clean Dream Act would not include funding for a border wall or detention centers.
In September, President Trump rescinded DACA, putting nearly
700,000 immigrants at risk of deportation.
700,000 immigrants at risk of deportation.
NAKASEC leaders say the upcoming vote on a continuing
resolution to avert a government shutdown offers an opportunity for Congress to
attach a clean Dream Act to the measure.
resolution to avert a government shutdown offers an opportunity for Congress to
attach a clean Dream Act to the measure.
“The Republicans won’t be able to pass a continuing resolution without the support of Democrats. This is a leverage point,” said NAKASEC leader Sookyung Oh. She was among a large group of Dreamers who waited to meet with Kaine in his office for six hours on Dec. 19. “Kaine needs to know people
are looking to him for leadership,” she said.
Kaine said at the Young Democrats event that he will vote for the continuing resolution to
keep the government functioning because he has constituents who are federal
employees or rely on Social Security, Medicaid, or other government programs. He
said shutting down the government “is a violation of the oath of office” and vowed
to work for a permanent solution to protect Dreamers.
keep the government functioning because he has constituents who are federal
employees or rely on Social Security, Medicaid, or other government programs. He
said shutting down the government “is a violation of the oath of office” and vowed
to work for a permanent solution to protect Dreamers.
Some of those at the event expressed
support for the Dreamers, but disagreed with their tactics. Jisan Zaman, for example, said he supported the activists’
struggle to extend DACA but felt they should go after the Republicans, rather
than Democrats, noting “Kaine is lightyears above every Republican.”
support for the Dreamers, but disagreed with their tactics. Jisan Zaman, for example, said he supported the activists’
struggle to extend DACA but felt they should go after the Republicans, rather
than Democrats, noting “Kaine is lightyears above every Republican.”
Failing to extend DACA is having a real impact on people’s
lives. Every day, 122 young immigrants are losing their protection under DACA, said
Nurimaro Park.
lives. Every day, 122 young immigrants are losing their protection under DACA, said
Nurimaro Park.
Park, a 2009 graduate of Woodson High School who was brought
to the United States from Korea when he was 9, has been living in
the shadows since his eligibility under DACA expired in May. He is a plaintiff
in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s abrupt termination of DACA.
to the United States from Korea when he was 9, has been living in
the shadows since his eligibility under DACA expired in May. He is a plaintiff
in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s abrupt termination of DACA.
Park is unable to get a work permit or renew his driver’s
license and fears the possibility of being deported. He earned an associate
degree in computer science from Northern Virginia Community College, but because
he can’t get a job in that field without legal status, he’s been working under the
table at an auto shop.
license and fears the possibility of being deported. He earned an associate
degree in computer science from Northern Virginia Community College, but because
he can’t get a job in that field without legal status, he’s been working under the
table at an auto shop.
Noting that DACA has strong support among the public and both parties in Congress, he said, “I’m really disappointed when our representatives don’t
support us.”
"Some of those at the event expressed support for the Dreamers, but disagreed with their tactics" Count me among them. Dreamers need protection, but they need to back the 2+ million strong federal workforce, plus all of the people who depend on the federal government's services, into a corner to get what they want. That kind of tactic emboldens their critics.
"Look at these illegals who are putting their needs above the needs of the millions of hard working citizens serving their country in civil service" – that is how their opponents will portray this if they keep pushing this tactic. Right now Dreamers have a decent amount of public good will on their side. They need to not risk that by using stupid tactics like this.
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That should have been "but they shouldn't back the 2+ million strong federal workforce […] to get what they want"
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Canada is beginning to look real good. How did they country get so off course? We use to lead on every aspect and now we just flounder.
I’m sorry, there were provisions in that CR to fund the children’s health insurance program. I think the need for CHIP funding beats DACA claims. Not good optics to be interrupting a US senator as far as I’m concerned.