Civil and Human Rights Coalition to Congress on Dream Act: This Is Not What Governing Looks Like

WASHINGTON—In response to Congress’ refusal to include a clean Dream Act in the two-week continuing resolution to keep the federal government open, Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement:

“Congress needs to demonstrate leadership for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and their families, and act responsibly to fix the crisis created three months ago by President Trump. After three months of failing to pass bipartisan legislation to protect Dreamers, the Republican congressional leadership is letting these families be ripped apart while they prepare to return home to theirs for the holidays.

Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell’s decision to not include the Dream Act in this week’s continuing resolution is not only irresponsible, it is also cruel. This is not what governing looks like and his failure to lead has real consequences for thousands of young people. More than 11,000 Dreamers have already lost their ability to work and be protected from deportation, casting their lives and the lives of their loved ones into chaos.

This is an issue of fundamental human decency and justice – one that will say a great deal about our values as a country. Congress must pass a clean Dream Act immediately.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is 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.