These Dreamers are hunger-striking in jail for a “clean” Dream Act
On Friday, December 15th, seven Dreamers were arrested during a sit-in at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office. As of today, December 22nd, the four remaining jailed Dreamers are continuing a hunger strike until Schumer and Florida Republican Representative Carlos Curbelo acquire enough votes in the Senate to delay a vote on the current spending bill (which contains a disputed version of the Dream Act) and force a vote on a “clean” Dream Act.
Congress will have to pass a federal budget plan today or face government shutdown. The current version of the Dream Act presented to Congress does provide ways for Dreamers — who arrived to the U.S. as undocumented immigrant children — to gain citizenship. But this version also increases funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and immigration detention centers.
The “clean” version of the Dream Act would protect Dreamers without increasing family members’ risk of deportation.
In September, President Donald Trump rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program put in place in 2012 by the Obama administration. Trump called DACA an “unconstitutional overreach of executive authority,” according to CBS News. He then ordered Congress to reinstate a new version of protective legislation for the Dreamers.
DACA deferred deportations for Dreamers and allowed those eligible to obtain two-year work or education permits, thus allowing them to stay in the U.S.
If you're reading this, I'm still in police custody after being arrested last night at @SenSchumer office demanding he prove claim to support Dreamers by organizing his caucus to block any spending deal w/out a clean #DreamAct. Will remain until he does. #OurDream #NoDreamNoDeal pic.twitter.com/BXkkXw6haI
— Erika Andiola 🦋 (@ErikaAndiola) December 16, 2017
According to The New Yorker, since 2001,the Dream Act has been introduced in the Senate more than five times. This time around, the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) released a statement in which 20 Democratic Attorneys General urged Congress to pass a clean Dream Act before they break for the holidays.
"As fellow leaders entrusted by the voters to protect the health, safety and well-being of our states’ residents," the statement reads, "we ask members of Congress to address this critically important matter without further delay, as you have repeatedly committed to do, to ensure that Dreamers can continue to thrive without fear of deportation."
I voted no tonight on a CR that does not include the #DreamActNow. Congress shouldn’t leave town to celebrate the holidays with our families while 800k Dreamers fear being ripped apart from their families & deported to a country they barely know. We must keep our promise. pic.twitter.com/wgG5Y2AuPo
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 22, 2017
Just opposed the funding bill the House GOP just pushed through Congress. Thousands of DREAMers will lose protections each day we are in recess — it’s unconscionable to leave town without passing the Dream Act.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 21, 2017
The jailed Dreamers stated they would not leave the jail without a clean Dream Act being passed. But CBS News reported that Republicans want to hold off on DACA legislation until next year.
Congress has until March 5th to come up with a legislative decision.
Hundreds already feel the consequences of DACA’s end on a daily basis. Come March 5th, it’s expected that hundreds will turn into thousands. If Congress does not vote on and pass a clean Dream Act today, and it’s unlikely they will, things will only get more complicated for Dreamers.
