For Immediate Release: January 20, 2018
Contact: Jareyah Bradley, jareyah@balestramedia.com, 908.242.4822
Government Shutdown is Trump’s Latest Leadership Failure, Decries Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Today, the Republican majority in Congress shut down the federal government after failing to pass a spending bill, which was a critical opportunity for lawmakers to uphold their commitment to the immigrant youth who were protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program until it was rescinded by President Trump in September 2017. Without a permanent solution in place, the lives of nearly a million immigrant youth, their families and their communities will be sent into chaos.
Said Sameera Hafiz, senior policy strategist with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC):
“There is no question that Trump’s failure to govern and lead is why we are here today. Instead of listening to the majority of Americans who support a legislative solution for immigrant youth, Trump has sabotaged any hopes of an immigration deal and continues to divide our country. By demanding extremist measures on interior and border enforcement, abandoning our commitment to humanitarian protections for people fleeing violence and using vile and denigrating language to refer to people of color--Trump has once again shown his true colors.
“The ILRC, along with immigration and civil rights activists around the country, call on Trump to wake up and govern. We need Trump to solve the crisis he has created by signing a bill that provides protection to immigrant youth without further attacks on immigrant families and communities of color.”
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The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC’s mission is to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. www.ilrc.org