The following is a statement by Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, in response to congressional votes today.
Last week, I was moved to tears of joy when Democrats stood up and fought for progressive values and for Dreamers. Today, I am moved to tears of disappointment and anger that Democrats blinked.
Without a doubt, a racist, lying bully of a President and a ruthless right wing Republican Congress are the ones responsible for blocking relief for Dreamers, despite the fact that 87% of Americans support a solution. All the pious statements by Trump and Republicans about wanting to protect Dreamers ring mighty hollow given their tenacious objection to any bipartisan deal that has a chance of gaining a majority.
We will dust ourselves off, and we will continue our fight. Dreamers are Americans, and as such they are defined not by their lack of citizenship papers, but by their character and contributions. And it is because of their Americanness, their character and their contributions that we are optimistic that the American people will demand that their elected representatives enact bipartisan legislation that formally recognizes this fact. It didn’t happen today. It will happen tomorrow.