‘If They Won’t Let Us Dream, We Won’t Let Them Sleep!’
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE AND A DREAM ACT NOW
By Stephanie Presch, Content Specialist, UnidosUS
“If they won’t let us dream, we won’t let them sleep!” activists chanted yesterday on the steps of the Supreme Court as they demanded Congress pass a DREAM Act now to help the nearly 800,000 young people who came to the United States as children.
The Trump administration’s arbitrary and cruel decision to “wind down” the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program has put the lives of thousands of young people in jeopardy.
And now as Congress has failed to act to provide relief for DREAMers, every day 122 people are losing their chance to pursue their education, have a shot at their dream job, or just provide for their families.
Clarissa Martinez-de-Castro, Deputy Vice President in the Office of Research, Advocacy, and Legislation, joined UnidosUS staff and partners at the rally in Washington along with thousands of other activists from around the country.
The demonstration began in Upper Senate Park and ended on the steps of the Supreme Court. Martinez-de-Castro, like many other activists there, was arrested during an act of civil disobedience.
Headed to the steps of the Capitol to demand a #DreamActNow pic.twitter.com/i1Z4NSCgaZ
— UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) December 6, 2017
We are supporting @CMartinezDC today. We have the votes, congressional leadership the time is now! #DreamActNow #SaveTPS pic.twitter.com/KLG8lUUhfF
— UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) December 6, 2017
WE NEED RELIEF FOR DREAMERS NOW!
Relief for DREAMers can’t wait. Polls also show that Americans overwhelmingly support DREAMers being able to stay in this country.
On Monday, the Main Street Republican caucus—a group of 40 House Republicans in total—sent a letter to Speaker Ryan calling on the chamber to pass relief for DREAMers by the end of the year.
NOW: NHLA leaders are defending our immigrant communities & demanding real solutions to #SaveTPS & #DreamActNow @Hesanche pic.twitter.com/SWc3gQ2DmM
— NHLA (@NHLAgenda) December 6, 2017
#GOP voices urging relief for #DREAMers. The votes are there, it’s time to deliver. Now! https://t.co/ILS2k2e4ta
— Clarissa Martinez (@CMartinezDC) December 5, 2017
Clearly, helping DREAMers is not only necessary, but also politically popular. So, what’s the hold up?
WE CONTINUE THE CALL TO SAVE TPS
It’s not just DREAMers that are in need of relief—the Trump administration has been gutting Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which gives protected status to some of our country’s most vulnerable populations.
Some people with TPS have been in the United States for nearly two decades, and have long established roots in their communities. This unprecedented action could grow the undocumented population by more than 1.1 million people, who would then be targets of the Trump deportation machine.
To find out more about UnidosUS’s work on immigration, as well as the facts surrounding programs like TPS and DACA, go here.
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