09.13.16

Durbin Meets With Mexican Ambassador To Discuss Immigration

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Mexican Ambassador Carlos Manuel Sada Solana to discuss relations between the United States and Mexico, as well as immigration, the DREAM Act and the Supreme Court deadlock in the case of United States v. Texas, the partisan legal challenge to Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). During the meeting, Senator Durbin expressed his commitment to protecting DREAMers and support for comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants with deep roots in the United States.
  
“Immigrants have made extraordinary contributions to the economic and cultural strength of our country. Yet millions of families continue to live in the shadows because of Republicans’ refusal to address our broken immigration system. Now, we have a Republican presidential nominee who openly flaunts his disdain for hardworking families and talented DREAMers who know no other country than America,” said Durbin. “We have a shared responsibility to find a compassionate solution to this issue, and I will continue to work with our Mexican partners to ensure that all immigrants are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
  
A photo of today’s meeting is available here.
  
The pair also discussed treatment of women and children fleeing violence in Central America’s Northern Triangle region by Mexico and the United States. Senator Durbin urged Mexico to show leadership in the region by expanding asylum and refugee protections for Central American migrants.
  
On Monday, in a speech at the 13th Annual Immigration Law and Policy Conference at Georgetown Law Center, Senator Durbin reiterated his call for the Obama Administration to protect vulnerable Central Americans by granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Earlier this year, he led a group of 26 Democratic senators urging President Obama to ensure due process rights for vulnerable individuals from that region and to designate Guatemala and re-designate El Salvador and Honduras for TPS.