Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Immigration
Durbin Statement On Immigration In Build Back Better Reconciliation Framework
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the inclusion of immigration in President Biden's Build Back Better reconciliation framework: "Millions of undocumented people live in this country and contribute to our economy. They deserve to live, work, and travel without fear of deportation. President Biden understands this. That's why he included immigration reform in his Build Back Better fr… Continue Reading
09.28.21
Durbin Statement On Refugee Consultation With Biden Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after participating in a statutorily-required refugee consultation between the Biden-Harris Administration and House and Senate Judiciary Committee leadership: "The number of refugees admitted in Fiscal Year 2021 - around 12,000 - is a disappointment. The dismantling of programs by the Trump Administration has hindered our efforts to accept more of the world… Continue Reading
09.28.21
Durbin: Immigration Reform Will Drive Our Nation's Economic Recovery For Years To Come
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today discussed the economic impact of immigration reform to our nation's economic recovery and Senate Democrats' continued efforts to include immigration provisions in the Build Back Better reconciliation package. He also discussed his visit to Little Village in Chicago last week with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). They met wi… Continue Reading
09.20.21
Durbin: The Push For Immigration Reform Is Not Over
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today discussed the Senate Parliamentarian's ruling on Senate Democrats' proposal to allow Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers to apply for lawful permanent resident status via reconciliation. During his speech, Durbin argued that due to Congressional Republicans' continued refusal to pass meaningful, bipartisan immigratio… Continue Reading
09.20.21
Durbin Statement On Biden Administration Refugee Admissions Goal For Fiscal Year 2022
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 refugee admissions target of 125,000. In April, Durbin led 33 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to President Biden urging him to set a target of at least 125,000 refugee admissions in FY 2022 and to set the refugee admissions target at 62,500 for this fiscal year. The Administration has p… Continue Reading
09.19.21
Durbin, Padilla Statement On Parliamentarian's Ruling Regarding Pathway To Legal Status Via Reconciliation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, today released the following statement regarding the Parliamentarian's ruling on Senate Democrats' proposal to allow Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers to apply for lawful permanent resident status via reconciliation: "We are deeply disappointed in the Parliam… Continue Reading
09.02.21
Durbin, Business Leaders Discuss Immigrant Legalization Through Reconciliation
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met virtually with Business Roundtable affiliates to discuss the urgent need to pass immigration reform through budget reconciliation, including measures to provide legal permanent residency to Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers. "We need to provide a path to legal status for Dreamers and others who are contributing to our economy every day," … Continue Reading
08.05.21
Durbin Talks DACA With Google CEO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai about a range of policy issues including Dreamers employed by Google, the importance of immigration reform, tech industry matters, and efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "My conversation with Google CEO Sundar Pichai today was productive and offered a chance to exchange views about a range of issues important to the technology sector," said Durbin. "I also thanked Mr… Continue Reading
08.04.21
Durbin: Our Immigration System Is Broken And The Time For Reform Is Now
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today highlighted the critical role immigrants play in our nation-including as essential workers who have risked their health and lives throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin also called on Congress to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken system. Previously, Durbin has stated that he believes the only … Continue Reading
08.04.21
Durbin Meets Virtually With Nominee To Lead ICE
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who has been nominated by President Biden to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During their meeting, Durbin emphasized the need for the Biden Administration to reform ICE detention and removal policies and invited Gonzalez to visit Chicago and meet with community members. "After four years of disastrous and irresponsible leadership at th… Continue Reading
08.02.21
Senate Confirms Ur Jaddou To Lead USCIS
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Ur Jaddou to be Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by a vote of 47-34. Ahead of the confirmation vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke in support of Ms. Jaddou's nomination on the Senate floor. "Ms. Jaddou may be the most qualified person ever to be nominated for this job. She has nearly 20 years experience in immigration law, policy, and administration. She's… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Durbin: We Must Pass A Pathway To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants Via Reconciliation
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today made the case for passing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants through the budget reconciliation process. During his speech, Durbin argued that due to four years of former President Donald Trump's 'zero-tolerance,' anti-immigrant policies and Congressional Republicans' refusal to pass meaningful, bipartisan im… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Durbin Meets With President Biden, Democratic Lawmakers On Path To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the Dream Act, met yesterday with President Joe Biden and Democratic members of Congress in the White House to discuss the plight of Dreamers following the recent federal court decision by Judge Hanen and the need to finally offer a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. "Two weeks ago, a federal court ruling in Texas on the legality of DACA placed the lives and fu… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Durbin Calls For A Pathway To Citizenship And Secure, Compassionate Immigration System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling for a secure, compassionate immigration reform after 35 years of inaction by Congress on the issue. In his speech, Durbin spoke about the continued uncertainty that undocumented immigrants face, including the looming fear of deportation that prevents them from living a full life in the United States despite residing on American soil for years or… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Hearing On Need For Path To Citizenship For Immigrant Farmworkers
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Immigrant Farmworkers are Essential to Feeding America," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to reflect on the state of agriculture in Secretary Vilsack's home state of Iowa as it relates to the issue of immigrant farmworkers. "We have a witness in the next panel, Linnea Kooistra-thank you for being here-she's from a dairy family… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Hearing On Need For Path To Citizenship For Immigrant Farmworkers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Immigrant Farmworkers are Essential to Feeding America." The hearing will examine the essential contributions of immigrant farmworkers to our food supply and highlight the need for the Senate to take up legislation to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented farmworkers. Key quotes: "During this p… Continue Reading
07.16.21
Durbin Statement On Texas Court DACA Ruling
CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and original author of the Dream Act, released the following statement regarding a federal court ruling in Texas on the legality of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA): "This cruel and misguided act of judicial fiat is the culmination of a longstanding Republican campaign to deport Dreamers. Congress will now act quickly - with or without the party of Donald Trump - to allow these Americans … Continue Reading
07.13.21
Durbin Responds To Cornyn, Tillis Letter On Dream Act Proposal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today responded to a July 6, 2021, letter from U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) requesting a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting to consider legislation, which apparently has not yet been introduced, to "offer permanent legal status to only currently enrolled and active participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)… Continue Reading
06.30.21
Durbin Statement On Rate Of DACA Application Processing Under Biden Administration
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, released the following statement regarding the quarterly report on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) requests, which shows that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved only 763 initial DACA applications under the Biden Administration, with nearly 100,000 initial and renewal applications pending: "The slow rate of processing DACA app… Continue Reading
06.25.21
Durbin Statement On Visit To El Paso, Texas, With Vice President Harris
EL PASO, TX - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after visiting the southwest border at El Paso, Texas, with Vice President Kamala Harris, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16): "I was last in El Paso two years ago. What I saw at the El Paso Del Norte Processing Center on that day has haunted me ever since. Simply put, the former… Continue Reading