Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Immigration
Durbin, Whitehouse, Hirono Lead Call For GAO Investigation Of Trump Politicization And Mismanagement Of Immigration Courts As COVID-19 Crisis Rages
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to lead a request from all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats to the top congressional watchdog to investigate the practices of the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) under President Trump, including its management of immigration courts during the current COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to the Government Acc… Continue Reading
08.10.20
Durbin Speaks With Venezuelans About Need For Senate To Pass Bipartisan, House-Passed Venezuela TPS Legislation
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today spoke via conference call with Venezuelans in Illinois and around the country on his efforts to pass the bipartisan, House-passed Venezuela TPS Act of 2019 in the U.S. Senate. The legislation would designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and protect approximately 200,000 Venezuelan nationals in the United States from deportation. They also discussed the increas… Continue Reading
08.05.20
Senator Rick Scott Blocks Durbin, Lee Compromise To Protect Immigrant Workers & Children In The Green Card Backlog
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today attempted to pass legislation to protect immigrant workers and children who are stuck in the green card backlog. Durbin accepted a compromise proposal from Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), which would make several key reforms that were not in Lee's original Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, including: Early filing to protect immi… Continue Reading
07.31.20
Durbin, Hirono, Colleagues To McConnell: Immigrants Are Essential & Deserve Support In COVID-19 Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and 24 of his Senate colleagues in a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to support tax-paying immigrant families who have Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN) by ensuring they have access to economic relief payments provided in the CARES Act and any future coronavirus relief package. An estimated 20 million immigrants work in essential industries. Many o… Continue Reading
07.28.20
With President Trump In Open Defiance Of The Supreme Court, Durbin Attempts To Pass Dream & Promise Act On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In response to President Donald Trump's open defiance of the Supreme Court's decision rejecting his repeal of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, asked unanimous consent to pass the bipartisan, House-passed American Dream and Promise Act. The legislation will establish a path to citizenship for Dreamers and immigrants wit… Continue Reading
07.28.20
Durbin, Perdue Urge Congress To Address Shortage Of Doctors, Nurse On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In speeches on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator David Perdue (R-GA) today called for Congressional leadership to include their bipartisan, bicameral Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act in the next coronavirus relief package. Durbin and Perdue introduced this legislation earlier this year to quickly strengthen our health care workforce and improve health care access for Americans during the COVID-19 crisis. It has received strong support … Continue Reading
07.23.20
Durbin Attempts To Pass Legislation To Protect Children Of Immigrant Workers In The Green Card Backlog
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, made a unanimous consent (UC) request to immediately pass the Protect Children of Immigrant Workers Act, a simple provision to allow children to keep their place in line for a green card and be protected from deportation until they can get their own green card. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) objected. Lee also objected to this unanimous consent… Continue Reading
07.22.20
Durbin Attempts To Pass Legislation To Protect Immigrant Workers & Children In The Green Card Backlog
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today made two unanimous consent (UC) requests to protect immigrant workers and their children who are stuck in the green card backlog. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) objected to both requests. First, Durbin asked for unanimous consent to pass the Lee-Durbin bipartisan agreement, which amends Lee's Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. The… Continue Reading
07.21.20
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Memorandum Seeking To Exclude Undocumented Immigrants From Census Count For Congressional Apportionment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's memorandum that seeks to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count for the purpose of congressional apportionment: "Article I, Section 2 and the 14th Amendment in the Constitution explicitly require the federal government to conduct a census that counts the 'whole number of persons in each State.' "Just last year, the Supreme Court recognized that … Continue Reading
07.17.20
Durbin Statement On Federal Court Ordering Trump Admin To Reopen DACA Program For New Applicants
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, today released the following statement regarding the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland's order for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to fully restore Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which includes reopening DACA to eligible individuals who have been unable to apply due to President Trump's decision… Continue Reading
07.17.20
Durbin Statement On Creation Of ICE "Citizens Academy" Pilot Program In Chicago
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today released the following statement in regards to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) plans to launch an Enforcement and Removals Office (ERO) "Citizens Academy" in Chicago, Illinois, where members of the community can learn about "defensive tactics, firearms familiarization and targeted arrests": "ICE should abandon its deeply flawed plan to launch a 'C… Continue Reading
07.17.20
Durbin Statement On Creation Of ICE "Citizens Academy" Pilot Program In Chicago
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today released the following statement in regards to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) plans to launch an Enforcement and Removals Office (ERO) "Citizens Academy" in Chicago, Illinois, where members of the community can learn about "defensive tactics, firearms familiarization and targeted arrests": "ICE should abandon its deeply flawed plan to launch a 'C… Continue Reading
07.15.20
Durbin Calls On President Trump To Comply With Supreme Court Decision To Reopen DACA Program For New Applicants
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Trump Administration to immediately comply with the Supreme Court decision to protect Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and reopen DACA to eligible individuals who have been unable to apply due to President Trump's decision to terminate DACA. The Supreme Court announced its decision on June 18, with Chief Justice John Roberts calling the Administration's effort to repeal deportation protections for Dreamers-… Continue Reading
07.14.20
Durbin, Harris Lead 33 Senators Administration Comply With Supreme Court Decision On DACA
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, and U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), member of the United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today led a letter from 33 Senators to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf calling on the Trump Administration to immediately comply with the Supreme Court's decision rejecting the Administration's rescission of Deferred Action… Continue Reading
07.14.20
Durbin, Harris Lead 33 Senators Administration Comply With Supreme Court Decision On DACA
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, and U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), member of the United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today led a letter from 33 Senators to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf calling on the Trump Administration to immediately comply with the Supreme Court's decision rejecting the Administration's rescission of Deferred Action… Continue Reading
07.10.20
Durbin, Duckworth Join Bicameral Letter Urging ICE And DHS To Immediately Withdraw New Guidance That Threatens International Students With Deportation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA.), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7), Joe Neguse (D-CO-2), Katherine Clark (D-MA-5), Seth Moulton (D-MA-6), and 85 other Senate and House Democrats, to send a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) an… Continue Reading
07.10.20
Durbin, Duckworth Join Bicameral Letter Urging ICE And DHS To Immediately Withdraw New Guidance That Threatens International Students With Deportation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA.), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7), Joe Neguse (D-CO-2), Katherine Clark (D-MA-5), Seth Moulton (D-MA-6), and 85 other Senate and House Democrats, to send a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) an… Continue Reading
07.10.20
Durbin Discusses Impact Of COVID-19 On Local Communities With The Illinois Business Immigration Coalition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke with Illinois Business Immigration Coalition leaders and staff about his efforts to extend COVID-19 relief to immigrants and communities of color. On the call, Durbin discussed provisions contained in the Heroes Act that he is fighting for in the Senate, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) work authorization extensions. He also discussed the Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act, l… Continue Reading
07.01.20
Following Landmark Supreme Court Decision On DACA, Durbin Attempts To Pass Dream & Promise Act On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, today asked for unanimous consent to pass the bipartisan House-passed American Dream and Promise Act, which will establish a path to citizenship for Dreamers and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). The House passed the Dream and Promise Act on June 4, 2019, nearly 400 days ago. Senator Ted Cr… Continue Reading
06.25.20
Following Landmark Supreme Court Decision On DACA, Durbin Calls On Senate To Protect Dreamers
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring to the Senate floor the bipartisan House-passed American Dream and Promise Act, which will establish a path to citizenship for Dreamers and immigrants with TPS or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Last week, in a landmark decision, the Supreme Co… Continue Reading