Chairman Becerra: Supreme Court Has A Decision to Make -- Does It Want To Support Those Who Would Build Walls or Those Who Want to Build This Country And Build Dreams?

Press Release

Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra joined Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other House Democrats to stand in support of President Obama's executive actions on immigration, ahead of oral arguments set to take place before the Supreme Court in the US vs. Texas case. A transcript of his remarks follows below and photos from the event may be found here.

"As the son of immigrants, I am proud to stand with so many champions of immigrant families and the American Dream. I salute each and every one of my colleagues who is here, from the Chairwoman of the Hispanic Caucus, Linda Sanchez, to an individual, Jose Aguiluz, who is the real fighter. [He is] a Dreamer and someone who qualified for DACA who has stood up the way we would expect an American patriot to stand up.

"My father was a construction worker most of his life. My mother, when she came from Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico to the United States, never had a chance to go to college either and became a clerical worker. But they did nothing but build this country. They worked very hard to make this a better land for so many people, and certainly for their four kids, who had a chance to go on to get a college degree.

"As we look at the building just down the street here, we know that the eight justices of the Supreme Court -- there should be nine, but there are eight -- have to make a decision. Do they want to be behind those who build this country and build dreams? Or do they want to support those who build walls? I believe that that building over there has had more sense that this building back here in talking about immigrant families and those who wish to build the American Dream.

"It is time for us to stand up. That is why I'm so proud to stand with each and every one of the champions that's here saying that we are ready to work with the Supreme Court and make sure that we will continue to let Americans, including immigrants who have become Americans, build this country and build America.

"I would simply say this to those that don't believe we're here to work hard and build this country: I have three daughters. My youngest just got her notice that she was accepted to college. My three daughters will all go to college and it's not even a question. When I was applying to college, my parents were just hoping I would go somewhere. So today they look at their grandkids and they know that those kids will have a chance to build this country in bigger and better ways than they ever had a chance. That's the challenge behind this effort and that's why we're all standing together as champions for immigrant families."

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