Dreamers

Floor Speech

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Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an urgent issue facing our Nation, and that is a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. These were children who were brought to our country oftentimes as infants. Mr. Speaker, you have already heard about them.

It has been almost 13 years since President Obama announced DACA. Since then the program has provided needed relief for Dreamers, including work authorization and temporary relief from deportation.

However, more than a decade later, Dreamers still do not have permanent protections. As the program continues to be challenged in the courts, Dreamers are left stuck in limbo.

For so many Dreamers, again, this is the only country they have ever known. They came as children and infants. They grew up here. They studied here. They worked hard here.

As you heard, Mr. Speaker, they are nurses, teachers, businessowners, and they are beloved members of our communities. This is their home.

Congress must finally come together to make a real difference for our Dreamers and our families, our businesses, and our communities. We have to get this done. It is the right thing to do.

I also believe in the family.

Why are we not allowing these families to stay, Mr. Speaker?

It is the right thing to do. We are good-hearted people as Americans. Let's get this done.

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