Durbin Recommits To Protecting Dreamers On Senate Floor Ahead Of New Administration

Floor Speech

“I rise today to again discuss one of my top priorities throughout my Senate career: fixing our broken immigration system. As the son of an immigrant from Lithuania, my personal story exemplifies the experience of immigrants in this country and just how far the American Dream can take you when you are afforded the opportunity. That is one reason why, 23 years ago, I introduced the Dream Act together with Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, who was then the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bipartisan legislation was very simple. It provided a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants who were brought to the United States as infants, toddlers, and children, allowing them to remain legally in this country—the only home they ever knew.

“Unfortunately, we have made little progress since [2013]. And today, as we hear dangerous rhetoric from the President-elect about immigration, I worry for immigrants and for the future of our country. We can all agree that any undocumented immigrant found guilty of a serious crime should never be allowed to stay here. But the last time the President-elect was in office, it wasn’t just criminals who were deported. We saw parents separated from their young children… And we saw Dreamers, veterans, and spouses of U.S. citizens deported. They were not criminals—many of them were pillars of their communities.

“This young woman’s name is Dulce Martinez, and she is better known by her students as Ms. Martinez. She was brought to the United States from Puebla, Mexico, when she was 14 years old. As a child, she loved school and dreamed of becoming a computer teacher. But when a college counselor told her that she wasn’t eligible for college, even with good grades, she was crushed. She felt hopeless and dropped out of school. It wasn’t until Ms. Martinez started working that she realized her education meant too much to throw away. The skills she was learning on the job helped her realize just how valuable an education was. She enrolled at The Borough of Manhattan Community College [BMCC] to finish her high school credits.

“She was able to obtain DACA, which allowed her to continue her studies at BMCC, where she received an associate’s degree in early childhood education. She graduated with honors. Ms. Martinez went on to serve as a BMCC mentor and employee, focusing on advocacy for immigrant and undocumented students. She also served on the City University of New York Women’s Centers Council. Today, Ms. Martinez has her dream job as Lead Teacher at a Head Start preschool in Brooklyn. She is pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education and conducting fieldwork in early education. The proud mother of four, Ms. Martinez uses her own life experiences to educate and inspire young people. She is the embodiment of the American Dream.

“I urge my colleagues to meet with these Dreamers [like Ms. Martinez]… These young people are ready and willing to help make America better. Dreamers like Dulce Martinez have earned the right to put down roots, raise families, further their education, and continue contributing to our society without the threat of deportation hanging over their heads. It is time for Congress to get to work on a bipartisan basis, to defy the so-called experts, and pass the Dream Act and immigration reform. It’s the right thing to do—and it is long overdue.”

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