Durbin: Repealing DACA ‘Never About Putting America First’ or Protecting Workers

During Friday’s Democratic Weekly Address, Senate Democratic Whip Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said, “repealing DACA was never about ‘putting America first’ or ‘protecting American workers.’ DREAMers grew up in this country and are American in every way except their immigration status.” Transcript as Follows: “Last week, we were dealt the heartbreaking news that the Trump Administration will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, better known as “DACA.” DACA provides temporary legal status to immigrant students if they register with the government, pay a fee, and pass criminal and national security background checks. The young people protected by DACA are known as Dreamers. They came to the United States as children. They grew up singing the Star Spangled Banner and pledging allegiance to the American flag. It was seven years ago that Republican Senator Dick Lugar and I sent a letter to President Obama, asking him to establish the DACA program. The President responded to our request, and DACA has been a huge success. Approximately 800,000 Dreamers have come forward and received DACA, which has allowed them to contribute more fully to their country as teachers, nurses, engineers, first responders, and service members. But today, across the nation, thousands