On the recordJanuary 16, 2018
Since the Trump administration announced the end of the DACA program in September, more than 16,000 people have already lost their protection from deportation and their ability to work. Each day we fail to act to protect DREAMers, 122 more people lose those protections and the ability to contribute to their country in the same way they have for as long as they have lived here. These DREAMers teach our children, care for our loved ones, start businesses, strengthen our communities, defend our Nation, and believe that our country, their country, will see them for the Americans they are. One of our country's proudest DREAMers, Jose Antonio Vargas, once said: Citizenship to me is more than a piece of paper. Citizenship is also about character. I am an American. We are just waiting for our country to recognize it. Jose is right. It is high time our country recognizes the DREAMers for the Americans they really are. It is time we show our national character. ____________________
