03.22.18

Durbin Asks Consent To Pass The Dream Act

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked unanimous consent that the Senate pass the bipartisan Dream Act. Republican leaders and President Trump have rejected multiple bipartisan offers to address the DACA crisis created by the President on September 5th, 2017. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) objected, and instead countered with President Trump’s immigration plan, which garnered the least support of any immigration measure considered by the Senate earlier this year, failing by a vote of 39-60. 

“All in all there were six different bipartisan proposals offered to President Trump to solve the problem he created by eliminating DACA. He rejected every single one of them. He sent to the floor of the Senate a bill offered by Senator Grassley of Iowa. Senator Grassley’s bill embodied the President’s approach to this,” said Durbin. “How many votes did the President’s proposal get? The President’s immigration proposal. 39. The President got 39. It was kind of a shock that the president’s own party didn’t support the President’s bill, at least not all of them.”

Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor are available here.

Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.

“85% of the American people believe we ought to do what’s right and fair for these young people. They support the Dreamers and they support giving DACA protection. 85%. 60% of those who voted for President Trump say we should do it. We should fix the DACA problem,” continued Durbin. “But we have failed again. We have failed to do what the President challenged us to do as he continues to reject every bipartisan proposal that has been brought before him. Every one of them.”

In July of last year, Durbin introduced the bipartisan Dream Act, which would allow immigrant students who grew up in the United States to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship. These young people, known as Dreamers, have lived in America since they were children, built their lives here, and are American in every way except for their immigration status.

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