Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3697, Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act, and Providing for Proceedings During the Period from September 15, 2017 Through September 22, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, today's bill that is on the floor is nothing more than a harsh measure that seeks to cast a broad net and cast immigrants in general in a poor light by labeling them criminals based on the suspicions but not the actual facts. What is more, this harsh and reckless measure provides virtually no procedural safeguards for people to challenge a police officer's opinion as to whether or not they are involved in a gang. A mere suspicion can mean that somebody can be facing removal.

Instead of dealing with such draconian legislation, we should really be talking about the positive contributions that immigrants make to this country and the fact that we have over 800,000 DREAMers in this country who are waiting for this Congress to act. They have been hoping and they have been waiting for years for this Congress to provide a legislative solution to allow them to continue to live in their communities, to contribute to the economy, to pay taxes, and to be a part of a country that they consider their own.

Many of these DREAMers were brought to this country as children, and they had no say in the matter. They speak the language here, not even that of their home countries of birth. Many of them have no families or ties there. Many of them are outstanding students who are studying law, medicine, and engineering. They want to put their talents to work for this country, and yet here today we are talking about a bill that would basically seek to condemn all immigrants as gang members and try to deport them as quickly as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in opposition to the bill that we are debating today and in support of allowing DREAMers a legislative path to remain in this country, to continue to serve in the military to fight and die for this country, to put their God-given natural talents to work to pay into the system, and to generate good economic results.

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Mr. Speaker, if you look at the class of DREAMers today that contribute to this country, many of them work and go to school.

Many of them are breadwinners for their families. They want to stay, and yet we have given them no opportunity to do so. They are patriotic, they are talented, and what they contribute to our country economically is tremendous.

If you think about the number of DREAMers who have bank accounts, who have credit cards, and who purchase goods that are produced here in the United States, to simply embark on a path of mass deportations isn't going to help our economy, and it is going to rip apart these families.

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