Rep. Roybal-Allard Celebrates DACA Supreme Court Victory

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), the lead author of the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) and an original co-author of the Dream Act, issued the following statement about the Supreme Court's ruling on the future of the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program:

"Today is a happy and historic day for America and our Dreamers. With the Supreme Court upholding DACA, thousands of Dreamers can breathe a temporary sigh of relief. The Court has done the right thing and protected DACA recipients from the Trump Administration's arbitrary and capricious effort to destroy the DACA program.

"The Obama Administration's creation of DACA in 2012 was a historic step to provide safety and security to hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who call America their only home. When the Trump Administration tried to terminate DACA, that sense of safety and security was ripped away.

"I am relieved that the Supreme Court has seen the illegality of President Trump's actions, and validated the promise and patriotism of our Dreamers. I thank all those who were a part of this victory, especially the Dreamers across the country who bravely shared their stories during this fight. I also thank the litigators who saw the injustice of the President's actions and built a compelling case to honor these young Americans, and I thank all the leaders and advocates who have fought to defend DACA.

"As original co-author of the Dream Act, I have been privileged to meet and hear from Dreamers across the country for the last twenty years. In these Dreamers, I see hope for a brighter tomorrow. I see how they strengthen our communities and our country. They are our educators, community leaders, medical care professionals, students, neighbors, and family members.

"As America battles COVID-19, I'm especially grateful for the many DACA recipients who have selflessly placed themselves on the frontlines in essential jobs, including those working as medical professionals to save lives across our country.

"Today is a day for celebration and gratitude, but our work is not over. I continue to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to honor the sacrifices, talents, and patriotism of America's Dreamers by holding a vote on H.R. 6, my Dream and Promise Act.

"My bill provides a path to citizenship for 2.1 million Dreamers, who are American in every way but on paper. The Senate must pass this bill to ensure that no administration can upend Dreamers' lives out of prejudice or political gain."

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