Speech #1140036592

Program was created because our government faced an impractical mandate to deport hundreds of thousands of undocumented children who pose no risk to society. Congress. thus far. has been unable to solve the problem. Despite the very good bipartisan efforts that occurred in this body back in 2013. we have been unable to pass any meaningful immigration reform. Why? Well. a group from the far right in the House of Representatives oppose immigration reform at all costs and have sort of tied Speaker BOEHNER into knots so he cant bring anything to the floor. So 3 years ago. with no choice. President Obama moved forward on his own to shield children who were brought to this country through no fault of their own. They were brought by their parents when they were very young. most of them. children who have lived here for many years and know no other country as their own. children who are in our school system and dreaming of getting a college degree in America. The President created DACA. a temporary program modeled on the DREAM Act. which is a vital component of comprehensive immigration reform. As I said. we couldnt get immigration reform. unfortunately. That would have been the best way to go. and I am still hopeful that will happen at some point in time. But doing what the President did was the humane and practical thing to do because the House couldnt do anything.