Senator Jeff Merkley Advocates for DREAM Act and DACA Recipients

The Plight of Dreamers

• 🎯 Dreamers, defined as individuals under 16 who arrived before 2007, are caught in a legal limbo due to Congress's failure to act.
• 💡 The DREAM Act is presented as a crucial piece of legislation to provide these individuals with a legal pathway to citizenship.
• 📌 The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, established in 2012, was intended as a temporary measure, but Congress has yet to pass permanent legislation.

Historical Context and American Values

• 📜 The speech references the historical American spirit of immigration, citing the arrival of the Miracle brothers and the iconic words of Emma Lazarus on the Statue of Liberty.
• 🇺🇸 The vision of America as a nation "of by and for the people" is contrasted with the current inaction regarding Dreamers.
• 🤝 The DREAM Act has historically seen bipartisan support, with Republican Senator Orin Hatch first introducing it in 2001.

DACA's Impact and Economic Contributions

• 📈 Over 825,000 young people, including approximately 8,000 in Oregon, are currently protected by DACA, but face uncertainty.
• 💰 DACA recipients have significantly contributed to the US economy, contributing over $140 billion and over $40 billion in taxes.
• 🧑‍⚕️ They serve in vital roles within communities, including as teachers, nurses, and police officers, enriching the nation.

Call to Action

• 🏛️ Senator Merkley urges Congress to process the over 100,000 pending DACA applications and bring the DREAM Act to a final vote.
• ✅ The goal is to ensure that the American dream remains accessible to all, fulfilling the promise of a welcoming nation.
• ⏳ The speech highlights the urgency, noting that the Trump administration has been aggressive in deportations and could potentially rescind DACA protections.