09.23.24

Durbin Highlights The Urgent Need To Protect Dreamers And Pass The Dream Act

As the author of the Dream Act, Durbin highlights his 144th and 145th Dreamer story on the Senate floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor highlighting the urgent need for Congress to pass legal protections for noncitizens who were brought to the United States as children, known as Dreamers.  

More than 20 years ago, Durbin first introduced the Dream Act.  In 2010, Durbin sent a letter, joined by the late Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), asking then-President Obama to stop the deportation of Dreamers.  Nearly 12 years ago, President Obama responded by announcing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  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, small business owners, and more. 

“These young people grew up alongside our own kids, with the same hopes and dreams.  They came to the classroom each day and pledged an allegiance to the same flag.  These young people grew up and wanted to serve our country as doctors, teachers, engineers, first responders, and more.  They contribute to our nation virtually every single day.  Yet, they also live in fear of their lives being uprooted because of congressional inaction and ongoing litigation,” said Durbin.  

During his speech, Durbin told the story of twin brothers and Dreamers—Giovani and Michael Pimentel—who were born in Mexico and brought to the United States when they were only six years old.  They were raised in Greenville, Texas, and had to quickly learn English and felt an extra need to “prove themselves.”  They graduated from high school in the top ten percent of their class and went on to Texas A&M University-Commerce.  Michael graduated from college with a triple major in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology, and Giovani graduated with degrees in Public Health and Political Science.  Michael went on to earn his master’s degree from Stanford University, and he is now pursuing his Doctorate in Pharmacology.  Michael has observed disparities in the care of loved ones undergoing chemotherapy.  As a result, he aims to specialize in oncology medications to improve outcomes for all cancer patients—regardless of where they are from or the language they speak.  Giovani attended Loyola University-New Orleans College of Law and graduated with honors.  He became a licensed attorney in California in November 2022 and began working in employment law.  He sat for the Texas Bar in July, and his goal is to support the Texas legislature as a Legislative Counsel.  Michael and Giovani are the 144th and 145th Dreamer stories Durbin has told on the Senate floor.

Durbin continued, “To Michael, DACA means ‘hope’—a hope that the United States will one day come to ‘accept Dreamers’ and allow them to remain here without the threat of deportation.  To Giovani, DACA signifies ‘promise’—a promise to Dreamers, that if they work hard and contribute to America, they will be granted protection and a pathway to citizenship.  It is long past time that we uphold our end of the bargain.  Michael and Giovani are not only role models—they are living representations of the American dream.  It’s time for us in Congress to protect these Dreamers.”

DACA recipients are protected from deportation for now, but due to lawsuits by extreme MAGA Republicans, their fates are in the hands of a Republican-appointed judge who has repeatedly found DACA and other programs like it unlawful.  Last September, that federal judge in Texas declared the DACA program unlawful.  Though the decision left in place protections for current DACA recipients while the appeal is pending in the 5th Circuit, they live in fear that the next court decision will upend their lives.  Oral arguments in the appellate case are scheduled for October 10, 2024.

Durbin concluded, “I want to urge my colleagues not to ignore these Dreamers and their lives, which are at stake every single day.  They need to live in America without fear of deportation.  It is time for Congress to get to work on a bipartisan basis and pass the Dream Act.  It was the right thing to do 20 years ago, and it is the right thing to do today.  These young Dreamers prove my case every day of their lives.  I thank members of the Senate who support me.  We need more in the future.”

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

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

Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.

The Dream Act was also 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 the Dream Act at least five times.

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