Congress faces a pressing deadline to restore protections for Dreamers — those brought to the United States by a parent and who have grown up here since they were kids — by the end of the year. It is far too common for Congress to delay needed actions, but passing a clean Dream Act cannot be another thing that politicians put off before heading home for the holidays. This is an issue of fundamental human decency and justice — one that will say a great deal about our values as a country.
If lawmakers fail to act in December, young people across the United States will be forced to flee the only country they’ve known or once again recede into the shadows. This is a cruel and inhumane way to treat people who consider the United States their only home and are valuable members of our society. Dreamers came to the United States with their parents who believed that this country offered them a chance at a better future.
President Trump and members of his administration have been quite open about their extreme intolerance for immigrants and who they believe should have access to the American Dream. During his presidential campaign, we heard the hateful rhetoric in Trump’s speeches. We saw him fill his administration with xenophobic, anti-Semitic, and racist individuals who seek to divide and marginalize us based on how we look or how we pray.
We watched as his administration refused to unequivocally condemn the white nationalists marching down the streets of Charlottesville. Now Congress has to decide whether to follow his lead or to solve this crisis in a bipartisan way.
Today, Dreamers run small businesses, teach, work in our hospitals and schools, serve in the military, and are leaders in their communities. That’s why earlier this month, more than 70 civil rights organizations from across the country came together to ask the Trump administration and members of Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike — to come together to protect Dreamers.
Right now, there is a bipartisan Dream Act sitting in Congress that will solve this manufactured crisis that Trump created. It’s a bill that has been kicking around in Congress in some form or another for over a decade. It has support from influential members of both parties – from Sens. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamGOP candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene posts image of herself with gun next to members of 'Squad' Assistant Texas AG ousted after posting pro-QAnon, anti-LGBT tweets Germany says Kremlin critic was poisoned with same nerve agent used in UK attack MORE (R-S.C.) and Cory Gardner
Cory Scott GardnerMail-in voting won't hurt conservatives — Trump will Overnight Energy: Interior watchdog says officials misled Congress | Trump admin finalizes rule on royalty cuts for mining | Groups pressure Biden to exclude fossil fuel execs Interior watchdog: top officials misled Congress on BLM relocation out West MORE (R-Colo.) to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Chuck SchumerCompanies developing COVID-19 vaccines planning to issue joint safety pledge: report Schumer calls for accountability in Daniel Prude death in Rochester Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE and Sen. Kamala Harris
Kamala HarrisCelebrities recording personalized Cameo messages in Biden fundraising effort Sarah Jessica Parker helps launch 'Moms for Biden' in Ohio The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden visits Kenosha | Trump's double-voting suggestion draws fire | Facebook clamps down on election ads MORE (D-Calif.).
Congress should immediately pass a clean Dream Act — one without any divisive amendments. There are human stakes in these negotiations. Our elected leaders must not use this opportunity to try to push through other aspects of their agenda, which have nothing to do with Dreamers.
We are a nation with a strong history of immigration. Turning our back to those who seek a better life in America is a fundamental rejection of our founding principles. We cannot let President Trump’s abdication of leadership dictate the future of Dreamers living in the United States. Members of Congress have an opportunity to show meaningful leadership by casting an historic vote to protect Dreamers next month. It is time for them to do the right thing without further delay.
Vanita Gupta is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
