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Calls On Congress to Pass a Clean Dream Act
New York, NY, October 9, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today denounced the Principles and Policies on Immigration released by the White House, which include defunding “sanctuary cities” that seek to maintain trust between police and immigrant communities, closing the doors to children fleeing extreme violence in Central America, and potentially sending asylum seekers back to life-threatening situations.
These principles also threaten to derail bipartisan progress in Congress to protect the nearly 800,000 DACA recipients who were brought to the United States as children and whose lives now hang in the balance.
Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement:
The latest announcement from the White House laying out principles and policies on immigration is ill-advised, heartless, and runs counter to our American values of standing as a beacon of hope for people around the world. Last month, the Administration needlessly rescinded DACA, endangering nearly 800,000 young immigrants who had no part in their undocumented entry into this country – and who were brave enough to come out of the shadows and apply for work authorization. The Administration indicated at the time and in the days after that they were willing to work with Congress to protect these young immigrants, but the policies and principles that the White House laid out last night show us that they were not serious about that commitment.
We support fair and reasonable border security measures, but the ones outlined in the latest principles have little to do with security. They undermine the long and hard work local law enforcement has done in sanctuary cities to build critical trust with immigrant communities. They endanger asylum seekers fleeing for their lives, cruelly shutting the door to those in the direst need.
These proposals are a poison pill designed to derail enactment of a clean Dream Act, which has broad bipartisan support. We urge Congress to reject these divisive policies and principles and instead work together to pass a clean Dream Act that will protect young immigrants brought to the United States as children. America must continue to be a safe haven for those fleeing extreme violence and persecution and must welcome those who are seeking a better life for themselves and their family. Now is the time for Congress to act.