Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the statement below concerning the March 5th deadline imposed by President Trump for action on Dreamers:
“Six months ago President Trump decided to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Dreamers are young people who have lived in our country since they were children. They are law-abiding residents who have paid taxes and secured jobs that support themselves and their families. Our government promised them that they would be protected if they came forward, and the Administration broke that promise.
President Trump and Mitch McConnell promised a legislative solution by the March 5th deadline, yet, they have repeatedly thwarted negotiations and walked away from bipartisan deals. An estimated 21,000 Dreamers have already lost their DACA protections, and from today forward about 1,200 more could see their waivers expire daily.
For the moment, courts have intervened to ensure DACA recipients are able to continue to renew their status, however, their future remains uncertain. While the court decision will allow some to renew their DACA protections, many will continue to lose status as they wait the three to five months it takes for USCIS to process renewals. We must work to pass permanent protections for Dreamers, so that these hardworking young people can have a future they can count on.”
###
