Civil and Human Rights Coalition Supports Protections for Young Immigrants in BRIDGE Act

WASHINGTON—Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in response to the bipartisan introduction of the BRIDGE Act by Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Richard Durbin (D-IL). This bill would protect young undocumented immigrants who registered with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program from inhumane deportation and allow them to continue to work:  

“America made a contract with 800,000 young immigrants who registered with the government that they could live, work, and study free from fear of detainment and deportation. Passage of the BRIDGE Act would codify that America stands by these promises. 

This is not a partisan issue; it is an American issue.  These young men and women are what make America great. Congress should act swiftly to pass this bill into law. 

But this bill is only a stop-gap measure. Our country needs comprehensive immigration reform that honors the dignity of working people, exemplifies core American values, and ensures the security and prosperity of our nation.

It would be tragic for the incoming administration to break America’s contract with its young people by needlessly deporting these young immigrants who showed the bravery to stand up and be counted.” 

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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