Reid Calls on Nevada Congressional Delegation to Denounce Trump Attacks on DREAMer Astrid Silva

Statement

Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement calling on members of Nevada's congressional delegation to renounce comments by Donald Trump Jr. after he told KSNV that Nevada DREAMer Astrid Silva should be deported.

"Let me tell you about Astrid Silva. Astrid was brought here by her parents when she was just four years old. She left her home country of Mexico to come to America for the very same reason as generations before her -- to achieve a dream we take for granted, the right to live in the land of the free.

"Astrid loves her country. It is the only country she has ever known. In her heart, her mind and her actions, Astrid is an American. And she is a living, breathing example of why young people who were brought here deserve to stay. People like Astrid enrich our society and remind us all that we are a nation of immigrants.

"Now Donald Trump Jr. Is calling for Astrid to be deported. This is despicable. Donald Trump Sr., has professed his love for dictators like Vladimir Putin. He has invited Russia to launch a cyberattack against America. He has publicly ridiculed and denounced Gold Star parents. He has ridiculed veterans and my friend, the great American hero, Senator John McCain. Donald Trump doesn't know the first thing about being a true American and I'm certain he would fail the citizenship test if he ever had the courage to take it.

"Astrid knows more about being an American than Trump ever will.

"And Astrid is a Nevadan. The people elected to represent her should stand up for her in the face of Trump's hateful, ignorant call for her deportation.

"It has been 15 hours since Donald Trump Jr. made these hateful comments on a Nevada television station. Many in the community have since expressed outrage, but Nevada's elected officials have been silent. These hateful comments and those repeatedly expressed by Donald Trump Sr. must be condemned. Staying silent ‎is not an option, especially when one of our own is under attack.

"So today, I am calling on every member of Nevada's Congressional delegation to denounce Trump's call for Astrid Silva to be deported. Some of my fellow Nevadans have voted to defund the program that would allow Astrid and others to stay, but surely we can all agree that Trump's comments are out of line. Astrid is one of us we should stand together -- Democrats and Republicans -- in the face of Trump's hateful policies."

Background:

Astrid's Story

Twenty four years ago, Astrid Silva at just the age of 4, crossed the Rio Grande in a rubber raft. She left Mexico, the country where she was born, to come to the United States. A decade passed before Astrid realized she had come to America illegally, without the proper immigration paperwork. Astrid decided to come out of the shadows and share her story. She spoke up. She told her story. And she sent Senator Reid many heartfelt letters, cards and notes to help him understand the struggles facing DREAMers and their families, and helped to drive a national conversation about this important issue. Since then Astrid has become a powerful voice for DREAMers and immigration reform.

KSNV Transcript

KSNV News3LV: Donald Trump Junior says Trump policy could lead to Dreamer deportation

During a one-on-one interview with News 3's Dana Wagner, Donald Trump Junior addressed his father's position on illegal immigration. Dana asked specifically about Astrid Silva and the population of Dreamers she represents.

"We have a problem in this country. Not hundreds, not thousands, you have millions and millions of people that are here that came here. Not saying they're bad people, not saying they couldn't be great Americans. I'm the son of an immigrant, my father is the son of an immigrant. We believe in immigration, but it has to be done right. You can't start a relationship based on a fraud. In her case (Astrid Silva) it's going to be different. There's a bunch of other cases. When I look at sanctuary cities, when I look at guys that are committing felonies and then they're released back into the streets as though rather than they're own countries won't take them back. That doesn't work," said Trump Junior.

Dana sought to clarify his comments, circling back to Silva and her efforts to help the children of immigrant families.

"Based on what I'm hearing Astrid Silva does have reason for concern in that there's a possibility that your father down the line would seek to deport her?" asked Wagner.

"So, it's a possibility yeah. His policy has been that."

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