Well, because I have been around the
Senate for a few years, and I know in January and February there is
little, if any, heavy lifting. There are few bills that have to pass,
and we tend to put things off. So far this year, we really wouldn't get
gold stars for our performance on the floor of the Senate in generating
legislation and that is why I want to get that done--the whole Dream
Act and DACA done--in the month of December before we leave. If we
don't do it, if we fail--and I pray that we won't--but if we fail, as
of March 5 of next year, 1,000 of these young people will lose their
protection under the law every single day for 2 years--1,000 a day. I mentioned those serving in the military. There are 20,000 under
DACA who are teachers. As of March 5 next year, they will lose their
jobs. School districts all around America will have to fill those
vacancies because the teachers can no longer legally work for the
school districts, and there are many others who face that as well. We
have almost 90 percent who are engaged in some type of job. Many are
students who work because they, as undocumented students, don't qualify
for Federal assistance. So they hold down jobs to pay for their college
education. I have met them. Some of them break down in tears and say:
Senator, I am so close to graduating, but what's the point if I am
going to be deported the day after? What's the point? That is what we are up against, and that is what we face.
Keywords matched
deported undocumented DACA