On the recordFebruary 2, 2017
Today I am introducing the DREAMers, Immigrants, Refugees--or DIRe--Legal Aid Act. This bill will fund legal services to protect them from the recent executive orders. In my district last week, I held an immigration town hall. The place was packed with people who were afraid for their neighbors and afraid for our communities, and this was before the executive order was released. When I was at LAX this past Saturday evening, I saw the fear escalate. President Trump's executive orders directly challenge the due process rights that are guaranteed to all of us under the Constitution. My legislation will help DREAMers, immigrants, and refugees have access to legal representation. Refugees are already vetted by the State Department, and the State Department does a very good job. If we want to do extreme vetting, let's do it right, and let's do it legally. If we wish to remain a beacon of freedom to the world, we must stand up for immigrants and refugees who look to America as a place of hope. We can't just claim we are the greatest Nation in the world--we have to be the greatest Nation in the world. ____________________
