Polis Issues Statement After Voting NO on Homeland Security Funding Bill

Statement

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) issued the following statement after voting NO on H.R. 2217 -- The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which passed the House in a vote of 245 to 182:

"I was shocked today to see an amendment offered by Representative Steve King (R-IA) pass the House floor, which would stop the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to provide DREAMers with deferred deportations and work permits. The King amendment puts into question the ability of our government to help our most talented young people, who consider the United States home and contribute to our country. While we still need to pass comprehensive immigration reform to provide a pathway to citizenship to young people and other immigrants currently living in the shadows, Deferred Action for Childhoood Arrivals (DACA) is a small but important program to help some of our best and brightest make this country a better place.

"I have been proud to have my office help hundreds of DREAMers with their applications for deferred action and cannot support any legislation that would do away with this critically important program. Despite this vote, the deferred action program will continue and my office will continue to help DREAMers with their DACA applications. As always, I continue to urge young people who are eligible for this program to apply for deferred action."

Source