Schakowsky: Republicans Fail to Address Border Problems, Betray and Target Young "DREAMers"

Washington DC – Rep. Schakowsky released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 5320 and H.R. 5272:

I strongly oppose H.R. 5320, harmful legislation that fails to address the real problems at our southern border. Instead of working on a bipartisan basis to meet the humanitarian needs of children at our border, the Republican majority pushed a bill that will not just take away recognized rights, but will send young boys and girls back to dangerous – and perhaps deadly – situations.

By passing H.R. 5320, the supplemental appropriations bill, House Republicans have ignored the pleas of the faith community, children’s advocates, immigrant rights groups and others. This is a cruel bill. It does not ensure that these children have appropriate housing and legal representation. They turn America’s back on children who have turned to us for refuge and safety – sending them back to dangerous – and perhaps deadly – situations.

I have met some of these children who are being housed in Chicago. They told me harrowing stories about watching their parents be gunned down in front of them because they would not pay “protection money.” Young girls are mothers because they were raped. Children are risking their lives to come to America – turning to us because our nation is a symbol of hope and a country that was built by immigrants.

House Republicans were unwilling to take the time to forge a workable and humane solution with House Democrats. As a result, they have forced through a bill that will provide neither the legal access or the time needed to ensure that we are not sending children back to potentially fatal situations.

The second bill, H.R. 5272, the “No New DREAMers Act,” would prevent the President from granting a reprieve to young immigrants who were brought to this country by their parents through no decision of their own. The bill will prohibit federal agencies from considering any renewals or new applications for young DREAMers, and would prevent any individual not in “lawful status” from receiving a work authorization. That would include battered immigrant women who have obtained relief under the Violence Against Women Act, victims of trafficking who would qualify for a T-Visa if not for the annual statutory cap, asylum seekers whose application has been pending for 180 days, and more.

The Republican majority has refused to allow us a vote on comprehensive immigration reform. They have refused to work with Democrats.

We are a better nation than that and, since the Senate will certainly reject these proposals, I hope we can sit down to pass a workable, more humane solution for these refugee children and DREAMers as part of comprehensive immigration reform.