Conyers to Serve as Honorary Co-Chair of August 15th Workshop in Detroit for DREAMers Brought to the U.S. as Children
Statement
Today, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), participated in a press conference alongside more than a dozen Members of Congress, including Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and Charlie Rangel (D-NY), in support of President Obama's decision to offer deferred action to exceptional young people brought into the country as children. Representative John Conyers, Jr. released this statement following the press conference:
"On June 15th, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano issued a memorandum offering temporary protection to DREAMers -- young people who were brought to the United States as children and are now in school, have already graduated, or have served in our Armed Forces.
"I applaud the leadership of President Obama and Secretary Napolitano and I recognize the courage and tenacity of the DREAMers themselves, who are Americans in every way but name. These are young people who have excelled in our schools, attended our churches and mosques, and played in our Little Leagues. They represent hope and wish nothing more than to contribute to this country -- the only one they have ever truly known.
"On August 15th, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting requests for deferred action from qualified DREAMers. To help DREAMers in Detroit understand this process and request relief, I will be an Honorary Co-Chair of an August 15th DREAM Relief Workshop sponsored by the Alliance for Immigrants' Rights-Michigan and other community groups. At the workshop, which will go from 3pm until 8pm at the United Auto Workers Local 600 hall in Detroit, people will have an opportunity to speak with trained volunteers and immigration attorneys providing free services who can help to walk DREAMers through the deferred action process. I encourage any young person interested in attending this workshop to contact my office for additional details.
"Until August 15th, I encourage DREAMers in Detroit, and nationwide, to begin collecting paperwork showing that they are eligible for deferred action. They might want to collect school transcripts, utility bills, or other relevant documents. They also must remain patient, however, because the application process has not yet begun. DREAMers should be wary of unscrupulous lawyers and notaries looking to make a quick buck off of a process that should be relatively uncomplicated.
"I am committed to working with the Detroit community and the President to make this process a success."
For additional helpful information on the steps needed to be taken for deferred action, please visit the Department of Homeland Security's webpage at:
http://www.dhs.gov/files/enforcement/deferred-action-process-for-young-people-who-are-low-enforcement-priorities.shtm
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