Senator Inouye's Statement Following the President's Remarks on Immigration

Statement

"The decision made by President Obama to implement a key component of the DREAM Act is a hope restoring victory for so many young people in this country.

The DREAM Act has been around in some form for a decade, and Senator Durbin has bravely fought for it against long odds. But despite House approval the Senate has been unable to agree that children under the age of 16 brought to this country by their parents should be granted legal residency if they remain in the country for five years and either attend college or serve in the military.

Today's announcement changed all that.

There are an estimated 800,000 young people living in America who are eligible to participate in this program. The comprehensive immigration reform we claim we want cannot occur if we do not allow for the basic education of children and if we do not reciprocate the patriotic spirit of those brave enough to put on the uniform and fight for this country.

While today's decision does not outline a path to citizenship for those eligible to participate, it does give infinite hope to those children who know no real home but our great nation.

These children go to school, they play in our communities and they learn the values that make America great and the least we can do is allow them the chance to finish school, go on to college and apply for work.

This policy change provides the foundation for real bipartisan discussions on comprehensive immigration reform and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together and continue this important conversation.

I was born in America but after Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor I was labeled an enemy Alien by this country. But we petitioned the government to allow us to fight and by the end of World War II, the 442 Regimental Combat team had suffered the most casualties in the European campaign but was also the most decorated unit of its size in the history of the United States military.

I am very proud that our President has decided to give hundreds of thousands of children the same opportunity that I was given."

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