01.24.17

Durbin Named Top Democrat On Senate Immigration Subcommittee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he was appointed Ranking Member of the Immigration Subcommittee:

“It was 20 years ago that I began my service in the Senate, on the Judiciary Committee, and on the Immigration Subcommittee. Though our bipartisan efforts to fix our broken immigration system have been blocked time and again, we must continue working to ensure that our immigration laws are worthy of our heritage as a nation of immigrants.

“At a time of uncertainty and anxiety for immigrants that has sadly been repeated throughout U.S. history‎, I am honored to serve as the Ranking Member of the Immigration Subcommittee.  I look forward to working with Senator Cornyn and the other members of the Judiciary Committee to make our immigration system fairer and more humane.”

Durbin has a long record of advocating for immigration policies that keep families together, safeguard the rights of American and immigrant workers, and boost the U.S. economy. Sixteen years ago, he introduced the original DREAM Act to give young immigrants who grew up in this country a path to citizenship. In April 2010, he became the first member of Congress to call for the establishment of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Senator Durbin was also a member of the “Gang of 8” Republicans and Democrats that authored comprehensive immigration legislation that passed the Senate in 2013.

This month, Senators Durbin and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that DREAMers remain protected from deportation under a Trump Administration. Like DACA, the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act would provide temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.