Group of House Demogrates Hold Press Conference on Events and new "Toolkit" in Support of President's Executive Actions on Immigration

Press Release

Today, Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) was joined at a press conference about the continued efforts to educate individuals and families about the President's immigration executive actions by a number of his House Democratic colleagues including: Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Karen Bass (D-CA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Al Green (D-TX), and Barbara Lee (D-CA).

Dozens of workshops and orientation sessions related to the deferred action programs -- known as DAPA and DACA -- have been held around the country by Democratic House Members and many more are planned. Congressman Gutiérrez, for example, will join Democratic Whip Hoyer in Maryland for an event on April 15 and has events planned in Tucson, April 17, and Albuquerque, April 18. He recently held three events in California (March 20-21) with Reps. Zoe Lofgren (San Jose), Karen Bass (Los Angeles) and Tony Cárdenas (San Fernando Valley/Van Nuys).

At today's press conference, Rep. Gutiérrez unveiled a new "toolkit" he has created to help families gather the documentation they will need once applications for DACA and DACA are available -- and which can be used now as a tool to fight deportation under revised deportation prioritization guidelines. The toolkit, a detailed pamphlet with a detachable wallet card, helps immigrants who meet certain criteria demonstrate they are a low priority for deportation should they be detained by immigration officials. Such defense against deportation is essential during this period when the courts are deciding when applications will be accepted for temporary protection from deportation. The "Family Defender Tool Kit" in English and Spanish is available on the Congressman's website and short videos explaining how the toolkit can be used will be uploaded in English and Spanish.

At the Press conference, Rep. Gutiérrez said: "We developed this "Family Defender Toolkit' that is designed to help people organize the documents they will need when the court injunction is lifted -- and it will be lifted, because the law is on the President's side. If you are in the unfortunate position of getting put into ICE custody in the meantime and have committed no serious crime, you will have the ability to say that you think you qualify for DACA or DAPA for all of these reasons, my documents have been collected and I can prove it, and I should be a low priority for deportation. If the ICE and DHS officials are following the policy correctly, that should be enough to let you go or at least get your case reviewed."

Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD): "The immigration system is broken and needs to be fixed. We agree. The President has agreed and tried to do what he could under law to do so. Now it is time for us to bring a bill to the Floor. But in the interim, this packet allows people to understand their rights in this country, pursuant to the President's order. If Republicans disagree with the President's immigration policies, again, they have an alternative: bring a bill to the Floor to change that." (more)

Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA): "Rep. Gutiérrez has been an amazing leader in our fight for comprehensive immigration reform and I have been proud to work with him. Our event to help the undocumented community in the San Fernando Valley was amazing and I believe this toolkit that he has put together will be a great follow-up resource. Until we can convince House Republicans to supercharge our economy by passing a reform package to fully fix our broken immigration system, I will proudly stand beside my friend Luis Gutiérrez to protect the men and women who are working hard in our nation's shadows."

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL): "Thanks to Rep. Gutiérrez, hardworking families and Dream Act students across America will have the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe and focus on the future. Across the Tampa area, Family Defenders, churches, schools, advocates and more are assisting families until a pathway is finally adopted through comprehensive immigration reform. Rep. Gutiérrez is an inspiration to me and the Family Defenders in Florida."

Rep. Al Green (D-TX): "I know that there is despair, but I also know that out of the ashes of despair there are embers of hope. I also know that hope, when properly kindled, can become an inferno of help. To those who are undocumented: Help is on the way. This toolkit will provide the help you need so that you will not only understand your immigration status; you will be able to communicate that status by passing a card, when necessary, to the appropriate person. This is important because it says to people that Members of Congress are taking a stand with the undocumented. We have decided that we are not only going to fight here in the halls of Congress for reform, but we are going to take it to the community and let the message go far and wide that we are here to help."

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA): "I thank Congressman Gutiérrez for creating these important resources for those living in fear of having their family torn apart by our broken immigration system. While the President's actions are a welcome first step, it's past time that Congress pass bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform. Juntos somos fuertes. Juntos nuestras voces son fuertes."