HYATTSVILLE, MD – Lately, sources claim that a bipartisan deal in the Senate to protect DACA recipients faces roadblocks. CASA Executive Director, Gustavo Torres, issued the following statement challenging Congressional leaders to seek a compromise that offers citizenship to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders as well as other immigrants who have lived in the United States for years:
“We don’t need to hear DC gossip. Immigrants in limbo are living the only truth that matters: immigrants must keep going to work, their kids must head to school, and their families must stay together. Our fire is alive and burning because it is fueled by our hopes, dreams, and expectations. And right now, our expectations burn brightly that Congress must compromise. Members of Congress are elected to serve the people in their district, and relenting when negotiations get tough means hurting millions of immigrant Americans across the country. Giving up is a no-go.
“We fully expect Congressional leadership to rise up. Many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have expressed their support for immigrant families – support for DACA holders is unanimous – well, now is the time for them to put their money where their mouth is. This end of year package could be the last hope that we have for a long time.”
According to experts, if congressional inaction continues and DACA ends, each and every week for the next two years, an average of 5,000 DACA recipients will lose their work authorizations and be placed at risk of deportation.
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With over 122,000 lifetime Latino, immigrant, and working-class members across 46 US states, CASA is the foremost immigrant organization in the mid-Atlantic region and a national leader in supporting immigrant families and ensuring that all individuals have the core support necessary for full participation in society. Now a national immigrant powerhouse, CASA creates change with its powerbuilding model blending human services, community organizing, and advocacy in order to serve the full spectrum of the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members. Visit us at www.wearecasa.org and follow us on Twitter at @CASAforall.
