The Answer is Clear, Put a Clean Dream Act Up for a Vote

Washington, DC —Four immigration proposals were up for a vote yesterday in the Senate floor and each failed to garner 60 votes to invoke cloture. One bill that was voted on was a complete reflection of the White House nativist proposal released just a few weeks ago, another proposal attacked sanctuary cities, and two were bipartisan solutions that included the Dream Act alongside increased border enforcement. Ann Marie Benitez, senior director of government relations for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, issued the following statement:

“Yesterday, the Senate attempted to pass dangerous legislation that would have endangered our immigrant families. These proposals are not the solution that Dreamers need. While we are relieved that each immigration proposal failed to pass, the Senate needs to immediately get to work to obtain a real solution for Dreamers. We are specifically looking for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to stop playing political games with the lives of immigrant youth and families. McConnell and Schumer need to bring a clean Dream Act up for a vote and guarantee the safety of 800,000 undocumented young people. NLIRH joins leaders, communities, and voters across the country in our fight for a clean Dream Act. The time is now to establish a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. We will not relent until all immigrants can live full and healthy lives without fear of persecution, detainment, and deportation.”

For more information on NLIRH’s fight for health, dignity and justice, visit us at latinainstitute.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @NLIRH.

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The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is the only national reproductive justice organization dedicated to building Latina power to advance health, dignity, and justice for 28 million Latinas, their families, and communities in the United States through leadership development, community mobilization, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.