Durbin Meets With American Business Immigration Coalition To Discuss Dreamers, DACA, And Essential Workers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with members of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) and impacted business leaders to discuss a variety of issues, including theDream Actand the impact of the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant agenda on essential workers and the future of the economy.
“Immigrants helped build our nation, and they contribute to our society and economy. They’re business owners, teachers, officers, and community leaders. I’ve fought for immigrants—especially Dreamers—for decades, and it’s more important than ever before that we support immigrant communities. I’m hopeful to reintroduce theDream Acton a bipartisan basis this Congress, and I will continue fighting to protect DACA from unprecedented attacks. And I will always remain grateful to the tenacity and strength of our immigrant communities, especially in Chicago,” said Durbin.
Photos of the meeting are availablehere.
Durbin has been a champion for immigration reform for years. In 2010, Durbin sent a bipartisan letter asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers. President Obama responded by announcing DACA in 2012, which has kept families together and survived relentless attacks for more than 13 years now.
More than 830,000 Dreamers have since come forward and received DACA, which has allowed them to contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, and small business owners.
While fighting to shield DACA from attacks by anti-immigrant extremists, Durbin continues to push for passage of hisDream Act, which would create a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and DACA recipients. TheDream Actwas included in the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill that Durbin coauthored as part of the “Gang of Eight”—made up of four Democrats and four Republicans. The 2013 bill passed the Senate on a strong bipartisan vote of 68-32, but the Republican leadership of the House of Representatives refused to consider it.
Over the years, Senate Republicans have filibustered theDream Actat least five times.
-30-