Click here for a recording of today’s call
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today faith leaders and a Dreamer from Alabama, Florida and Georgia urged Congress to pass a solution for Dreamers before the end of the year.
Speakers agreed that a permanent legislative solution can’t wait until next year. More than 100 Dreamers lose work authorization and protection from deportation every day, a number that will rise to about 1,000 per day if no solution is implemented by the March 5 final sunset of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). A solution would take an estimated seven months or more to implement.
The following are quotes from speakers on today’s call:
Alan Cross, Southeast Regional Mobilizer for Bibles, Badges and Business for Immigration Reform:
“We call for a solution consistent with biblical principles of justice and mercy. We don’t see this as a political issue—conservatives and liberals all agree that something needs to be done. We need to address this now. Pastors across the Southeast are appealing to justice and asking Congress to act. Not providing a solution is unjust and unconscionable.”
Katherine Narvaez, DACA Recipient and Health Program Coordinator, Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS), Norcross, Georgia:
“DACA has allowed us to better ourselves through our education and better our communities through the ability to work, becoming homeowners and entrepreneurs. This is our American dream, and we’ve proven ourselves to be assets to this country. We implore that everyone support passing legislation to keep families together, and allow us to continue giving back to our communities.”
Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Archdiocese of Miami:
“We’ve been waiting for over 10 years to right a serious wrong. These young people eat, talk and think like Americans—they should be able to dream like Americans. Unless we pass legislation, we will steal their dreams. It behooves Congress to act and to act quickly. The clock is ticking.”