Blumenthal: Congress Must Pass the DREAM Act

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement after Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump Administration is rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Nearly 800,000 “Dreamers” have benefited from the program, including more than 10,000 in Connecticut.

“The Attorney General is shamefully prejudging the courts and refusing to defend a lawful order of the President of the United States,” Blumenthal said.

“There is no such thing as an orderly wind down of the DACA program. The threat of unprecedented, massive deportation will cause terror and anxiety for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and their families. These young people came forward and shared their personal details – cell phone numbers, addresses, and tax information – on the promise that they would be permitted to stay here.”

“The chaos and confusion created by this announcement alone will not only disrupt and derail lives, it will be deeply destructive for our economy. It is creating an economic nightmare for employers and job creators who now have to replace a skilled and dedicated workforce. That’s why major business leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have urged against the Administration taking this sadly self-destructive action.”

“The President has completely abdicated leadership and offered no strategy for a solution. Now Congress must rise to the challenge and pass the Dream Act. This bipartisan legislation is more urgent and necessary than ever before.”