FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20th, 2017
Contact: Myrna Orozco | 202.599.3585 | media@cwsglobal.org
CWS APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF THE DREAM ACT
Washington D.C. – Today, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan Dream Act of 2017, which would offer a pathway to legal status for immigrant youth. This legislation comes after the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was threatened by ten state attorneys general, urging the administration to rescind the program or face a lawsuit. Church World Service applauds this introduction, urges the administration to keep the DACA program intact, and reaffirms its steadfast commitment to stand by undocumented youth and their families.
“The CWS network is strongly committed to standing with all of our immigrant brothers and sisters, including undocumented young people.” said Rev. John L. McCullough, CWS President and CEO. “We fully support this legislation and call on all Members of Congress to cosponsor the Dream Act of 2017 to give young immigrants the opportunity to fulfill the American dream. It it vital that this bill be considered in its own right, and not used as a political football to increase spending on building a wall or mounting a deportation force. The passage of a Dream Act is long overdue, as CWS has stood alongside immigrant rights groups and other religious organizations for more than a decade trying to enact such reforms. We pray that legislators remember the common values we all aspire to, which is the most basic of Sunday school lessons: to love our neighbors. There is much that is unknown right now, but what we do know is that God has called us to welcome our immigrant brothers and sisters – CWS will do that no matter what it takes.”
Faith communities across traditions have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to immigrant youth and their families, advocating for previous versions of the Dream Act, writing letters and filing Amicus briefs in support of the DACA program, and calling on elected leaders to champion policies that would create a path to citizenship for undocumented individuals in the United States. We will continue to do so throughout the efforts to pass the Dream Act of 2017, including advocating that the DACA program remain in place until this bill is enacted.
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