Washington, D.C. — Center for American Progress Action Fund CEO Neera Tanden released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to reopen the government for three more weeks with no protections for Dreamers:
We are deeply disappointed by today’s vote. All members who voted for this without a full resolution on Dreamers have let down not just a core value, but they have also allowed nativist hard-liners a freer hand.
It is clear today that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), and President Donald Trump all lied when they said repeatedly they wanted to protect Dreamers. In fact, they walked away from multiple bipartisan deals on the table. Ultimately, Republicans and the president have not negotiated in good faith and in the process, they’ve made their true goal clear: advancing a nativist agenda that betrays American ideals.
Now the onus is on Sen. McConnell to hold a vote like he said he would, and Democrats must hold him accountable. Democrats—and Republicans—must recommit to keeping up this fight in the Senate and the House and not abandon Dreamers. With 122 Dreamers losing their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program protections each day—more than 2,000 by February 8—the fight remains more urgent than ever. We will not stop fighting until Congress passes—and the president signs—permanent protections for Dreamers.