Blumenthal: Duke Testimony a "Stunning Betrayal" of Dreamers

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reiterated his call for Congressional passage of the Dream Act today after Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Elaine Duke testified that the Trump Administration could not promise it would not use personal information submitted by recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to deport them.

“Acting Secretary Duke’s comments are a stunning betrayal of everything President Trump has promised Dreamers from the very first day of his Administration,” Blumenthal said. “Five years ago, the United States government made a promise to the Dreamers: step out of the shadows and you will be protected, not punished. The Trump Administration’s apparent disregard for that promise is the height of inhumanity and hypocrisy. Congress must take action immediately and pass the Dream Act.”

Today, at a hearing held by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) questioned Duke: “They were told, by your agency, that if they submitted this comprehensive information about their background and status to apply for DACA, that that information would not be shared with ICE. I’ve asked you, I’ve asked the former secretary, are you willing to keep America’s promise to these young people and not share their information with ICE?”

“I can’t unequivocally promise that, no,” Duke responded. She also said that she was “not familiar with the promise that was made to these children.”