Speech #1130113993

Mr. Speaker. as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. I rise today to strongly oppose H.R. 5272. an extreme and highly partisan bill that would prevent the continuation or expansion of President Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. known as DACA. Simply put. this misguided bill limits President Obamas prosecutorial discretion and seeks to dismantle the DACA program. I am very concerned that the majority has brought this antiHispanic amended bill to the floor in order to prevent President Obama from building upon the successes of the DACA program and to appease the most extreme wing of the Republican Conference. The underlying bill punishes hardworking DREAMers and immigrants who are eager to contribute to Americas prosperity and have waited long enough for comprehensive immigration reform. Since its inception in 2012. the DACA program has protected DREAMers who meet certain requirements from deportation. allowing hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to remain and work in the United States. In my view. closing the door on undocumented youth is unAmerican. We in the Congress of the United States have a moral responsibility to protect the welfare and rights of vulnerable children and youth. including children and youth who are undocumented or are fleeing from violence and despair in their countries of origin. Mr. Speaker. I close by urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in strong opposition to H.R. 5272. extreme and highly partisan legislation that does nothing to fix our Nations broken immigration system.